Forums > Wing Foiling General

North Light Wind 8.0 short review

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Created by beached57 > 9 months ago, 9 Oct 2022
beached57
54 posts
9 Oct 2022 8:38PM
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Had opportunity to take out the relatively new North Light Wind 8m. i'm approx. 90 kgs, 187 cm (200 lbs, 6'3"). I was struggling with my 6m Slick SLS, so it was about 13 knots. I know many wouldn't consider 13 knots light, but for me, it is. I got my new North wing out, and took right off. So it saved my remaining session. Though it looks huge, it didn't feel that way in my hands. I'm used to a boom, but this wing has two hard handles. Not as good as a boom, but a lot better than those fabric handles. It jibed no differently than my Slicks, that is to say the extra size didn't cause me problems. It floated along just like my 6m does. The much more rigid front handle (than the Slicks) on the LE provided good control while flagging. I haven't tried other 8Ms so i can't compare, but I was happy with my first experience. The only negative i had is when trying to get up using my semi-sinker (75L board), it was a struggle to reach the front handle because the LE on this wing is so big. I use the wing in the water to balance me before I raise it above my head while on my knees and holding the LE handle, and during that transition, it was difficult to reach across the LE to find the front handle. probably something i can work on...or use a bigger board as this is a light wind wing.

Powis
WA, 60 posts
12 Oct 2022 2:22PM
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Thanks for the review. I have the Mode 5.5 arriving tomorrow and looking forward to trying these handles!

Dick Tatta
NSW, 341 posts
5 Nov 2022 12:01PM
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Beached57,you still liking your North 8 metre???

Im tossing up between a SLS 7m or the North 8m

We have quite gusty winds and not unsual to be less than 10 knots.

both above mentioned wings have the same wind range.

Im a tad heavier than you 95kgs and 178cms

thx

Dspace
VIC, 284 posts
5 Nov 2022 4:38PM
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Beached57, what front foil are you using in these light wind conditions? Have you tried tacking with this wing?

beached57
54 posts
5 Nov 2022 7:30PM
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i really haven't used the 8M a lot as we're getting into our windy season here and 6m or less is fine. i can say this (again): it is not a good match with a smaller board and choppy conditions. it's just too much to handle when trying to get up if you're struggling with the board at the same time. i've decided to use it only with my 98L board, which floats me fine. btw, i don't tack with any wing so can't say anything about that. sorry, not much useful info here, but i'll update when i get more time on it.

Dick Tatta
NSW, 341 posts
6 Nov 2022 7:31AM
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beached57 said..
i really haven't used the 8M a lot as we're getting into our windy season here and 6m or less is fine. i can say this (again): it is not a good match with a smaller board and choppy conditions. it's just too much to handle when trying to get up if you're struggling with the board at the same time. i've decided to use it only with my 98L board, which floats me fine. btw, i don't tack with any wing so can't say anything about that. sorry, not much useful info here, but i'll update when i get more time on it.


Thanks for the effort to reply cheers

JohnnyTsunami
131 posts
6 Nov 2022 5:33AM
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I can tell you the mode 7m is almost exactly as wide as a 5.5m dlab.

Dick Tatta
NSW, 341 posts
6 Nov 2022 1:45PM
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JohnnyTsunami said..
I can tell you the mode 7m is almost exactly as wide as a 5.5m dlab.


Thanks mate that's interesting

have you or anyone you know used an 8m

warwickl
NSW, 2173 posts
6 Nov 2022 5:32PM
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JohnnyTsunami said..
I can tell you the mode 7m is almost exactly as wide as a 5.5m dlab.


How does the Mode compare to the Dlabs
?

AGK7
13 posts
6 Nov 2022 9:11PM
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JohnnyTsunami said..
I can tell you the mode 7m is almost exactly as wide as a 5.5m dlab.


I'd greatly appreciate any experience on how well the 7m mode works in very light winds if you have pretty decent pumping technique -- and if anyone can compare it to the low end of a 7m CWC that would be especially helpful. Thanks!

JohnnyTsunami
131 posts
7 Nov 2022 12:07AM
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Sorry I never got it going! Kept pumping it up and riding a smaller wing. It's big and heavy but powerful. Handles are great. A guy was riding the same one in close to 20knots and it was looking good and not backwinding or anything.

AGK7
13 posts
7 Nov 2022 4:00AM
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JohnnyTsunami said..
Sorry I never got it going! Kept pumping it up and riding a smaller wing. It's big and heavy but powerful. Handles are great. A guy was riding the same one in close to 20knots and it was looking good and not backwinding or anything.


Thanks! I'll have to figure out just how heavy it is, but it looks promising and my 7m CWC is getting a little bagged out after heavy use.

CFLKiter
52 posts
7 Nov 2022 12:46PM
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AGK7 said..

JohnnyTsunami said..
Sorry I never got it going! Kept pumping it up and riding a smaller wing. It's big and heavy but powerful. Handles are great. A guy was riding the same one in close to 20knots and it was looking good and not backwinding or anything.



Thanks! I'll have to figure out just how heavy it is, but it looks promising and my 7m CWC is getting a little bagged out after heavy use.


I got to ride the 8m North and 8m CWC back to back today in 10-12 gusty conditions with my 60l Armstrong FG and Cabrinha H1000. I weigh 195lbs and I am 6ft tall for reference. I think the CWC is significantly more stable and well balanced than the North. Also despite being slightly wider the CWC never felt like a big wing, but the north felt like an unforgiving big beast. I had a terrible time with the north catching its wing tips while doing a stink bug start on my 60l board. Had no issues with the CWC. The North also fluttered like crazy on the leach while riding. Hopefully that was just a bad copy issue though. Honestly it was no competition in my opinion the CWC was the clear winner. It honestly felt like I was fly my 6m in powered up conditions which is awesome considering how light the wind was.

Was rooting for North because I like competition and I am a fan of handles but it just didn't work out.

tintifax
VIC, 50 posts
8 Nov 2022 5:25AM
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I am also 195 lbs and 6 feet and have now 3 sessions (2x with 10 knots + and 1x with 10 to 20 knts) with the North 8m under my belt. Can't offer a comparison with the CWC. The CWC wasn't an option for me as I heard from people changing/upgrading it every few month due to wear and for several reason I don't go back to soft handles. Therefore i was kind of relieved when i got it that the built looks kind of solid enough - well time will tell.
In 2 sessions with 10 knts+ the handling was easier than expected and it was nice to get on the foil so easy (instead pumping my 6m like a maniac in low winds and deleting my tank in one hour). I didn't think tacks would be fun with such an area but i was surprised that back- and frontside tacks were nice to carve through the wind.
One session wind was gusting to the point where riders with my weight were good powered on their 5m and it was still a controlled fun ride without any strange pull on the arms. So far i am happy with it and keep it.
BTW: i was on a 90 L and ART 1099 or BSC 890........the combination with the BSC 890 i find perfect for me

Dick Tatta
NSW, 341 posts
8 Nov 2022 7:32AM
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Thx tintifax,like your review.

Did you consider getting the duotone SLS 7m which has the same wind range???

We have gusty winds up here,it's been a strange year with no consistency ,No real southerlies,No westerlies and now ,no northeast summer winds.

With the price of the wings,you have to do research, ask questions,there's really no where to try the wings,and it's an expensive mistake.

tintifax
VIC, 50 posts
10 Nov 2022 3:35AM
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Fitzsup said..
Thx tintifax,like your review.

Did you consider getting the duotone SLS 7m which has the same wind range???

We have gusty winds up here,it's been a strange year with no consistency ,No real southerlies,No westerlies and now ,no northeast summer winds.

With the price of the wings,you have to do research, ask questions,there's really no where to try the wings,and it's an expensive mistake.


Hi Fitz, if i look at the profile and size of that 8m and considering how stiff the frame is for that size, i can't imagine that any 7m has the same comfortable low end (with the same foil) - of course the marketing guys can write everything ;-). And like I said before, i can ride the same wind range with my 6m or even 5m but have just work so much harder. As i am 95% riding on a small lake with really heavy gusting conditions and don't have many classical lightwind days (and want to loose some weight anyway :-) ) i also will test a 7m (but not the Duotone) and maybe change to have higher top end and loose on the low end.

Dick Tatta
NSW, 341 posts
10 Nov 2022 11:02AM
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Select to expand quote
tintifax said..

Fitzsup said..
Thx tintifax,like your review.

Did you consider getting the duotone SLS 7m which has the same wind range???

We have gusty winds up here,it's been a strange year with no consistency ,No real southerlies,No westerlies and now ,no northeast summer winds.

With the price of the wings,you have to do research, ask questions,there's really no where to try the wings,and it's an expensive mistake.



Hi Fitz, if i look at the profile and size of that 8m and considering how stiff the frame is for that size, i can't imagine that any 7m has the same comfortable low end (with the same foil) - of course the marketing guys can write everything ;-). And like I said before, i can ride the same wind range with my 6m or even 5m but have just work so much harder. As i am 95% riding on a small lake with really heavy gusting conditions and don't have many classical lightwind days (and want to loose some weight anyway :-) ) i also will test a 7m (but not the Duotone) and maybe change to have higher top end and loose on the low end.


Thx mate,really appreciate your time and effort.

Yeah just being a tightarse,the price difference between the 2 is about $200.

Im basically lazy hate to pump,but you can work up a thirst.

thanks again bud

AlexF
484 posts
16 Nov 2022 7:14PM
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Regarding North marketing the LWs should have more power per sqm.
I currently use a 6m Ozone V2 which pulls like crazy for its size but has less topend und does need much more effort to control in gusts compared to my 6.4 Slingwing V2 that i had before.
So i switch to my 5 Ozone V2 quite early and often to still ride comfortable, since the 5 combines power and control quite well.
I just wonder if the North LW wings have about the same or even more power than other brand wings in their size.
If so i'd give the LW 6 a try since i'm a little hesitiant to buy a massive 7 or even 8 wing, coming from my experience with my 6 Ozone V2.
I'm 93 kg, 1,92m tall.

Goofcat
239 posts
19 Nov 2022 12:02AM
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Goofcat
239 posts
19 Nov 2022 12:03AM
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Love how he starts cocky then humbles out after he realizes the conditions he is in.

AlexF
484 posts
25 Nov 2022 9:50PM
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Good vid, but it doesn't answer my question completely.
The very light winds in the vid for sure favour the 8 over the 6, but there are two statements that are valuable:
-The 6 and 7 Nova (standard) feel heavy and clumsy.
- The 8 Nova LW has a suprisingly good handling despite its sheer huge dimensions.

The question that remains for me is, if a 6 Nova LW has the same power like a 7 Standard Nova or Mode or CWC or Unit etc.
For sure it may loose against these wings in speed, upwind and upper range maybe but the 6 LW should provide better handling because of weight and dimensions therefore.

beached57
54 posts
4 Dec 2022 12:44AM
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have had a few more sessions on the 8M. it has saved those days for me, i.e., i would've been watching on the beach without it. the original videos from North saying it will work in 6-9 knots is ridiculous, but my low end was about 17 mph to wing (using my 6M Slick SLS), and now it's 15. and we get a lot more 15 mph days. in stronger winds (17 and up), it does not feel like too much to handle, and i really like the way it floats in the air during a jibe. if it is closer to 15, you do have to watch out for the center end of it dragging in the water during a jibe. the handles are very good...not boom good, but a lot better than any of the soft stuff out there. overall i'm happy with it knowing it will give me more water time, and a better time overall with lighter winds than my 6m.

north_kiter
NSW, 233 posts
4 Dec 2022 4:48AM
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I don't want to derail the thread, but I was thinking about getting an 8m but decided to get a sup foil board instead.

I use to struggle under 15kn at 100Kg 6'3, 1350cm foil until I got a 6'6 x 30 x 140L board. I can now wing in 12-13kn low end with a 6.5m SLS (boom way better than handles and doesn't damage the board, fly one handed etc, came from using 22 unit).

The sup board costs about the same price as a 8m wing, and because of the longer waterline length of the board and the extra volume and stability it planes so easy and if you miss a gust you just wait for the next one, very easy to balance on a board 26-30 wide.

Any board with the same design as a Kalama E3 or new DW shapes, with foil tracks forward, and with chimes (very important for carving) and volume more to the front, having these characteristics allows the board to carve/turn easy without touching the rails and the board feels smaller, like a 5'4 as foil tracks are forward. I don't jump but tack, gybe etc and don't notice the length that much, only really in tacks, it's light too 7.5kg. I can comfortably ride this setup up to around 18 knots, and now this board is used 50% of the time for me, just makes it so easy, no more struggling to get on foil in sketchy gusty conditions and made winging fun in light winds.

I can also sup foil now too :)

So anyone considering a larger hand wing, I would recommend considering a sup foil board, or a 6'6 downwind board, the extra water line length will allow you to wing in light wind and it's really fun. No need for big cumbersome wing to handle and control.

warwickl
NSW, 2173 posts
4 Dec 2022 6:59AM
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north_kiter said..

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I don't want to derail the thread, but I was thinking about getting an 8m but decided to get a sup foil board instead.

Select to expand quote

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I use to struggle under 15kn at 100Kg 6'3, 1350cm foil until I got a 6'6 x 30 x 140L board. I can now wing in 12-13kn low end with a 6.5m SLS (boom way better than handles and doesn't damage the board, fly one handed etc, came from using 22 unit).

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The sup board costs about the same price as a 8m wing, and because of the longer waterline length of the board and the extra volume and stability it planes so easy and if you miss a gust you just wait for the next one, very easy to balance on a board 26-30 wide.

Select to expand quote

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Any board with the same design as a Kalama E3 or new DW shapes, with foil tracks forward, and with chimes (very important for carving) and volume more to the front, having these characteristics allows the board to carve/turn easy without touching the rails and the board feels smaller, like a 5'4 as foil tracks are forward. I don't jump but tack, gybe etc and don't notice the length that much, only really in tacks, it's light too 7.5kg. I can comfortably ride this setup up to around 18 knots, and now this board is used 50% of the time for me, just makes it so easy, no more struggling to get on foil in sketchy gusty conditions and made winging fun in light winds.

Select to expand quote

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I can also sup foil now too :)

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So anyone considering a larger hand wing, I would recommend considering a sup foil board, or a 6'6 downwind board, the extra water line length will allow you to wing in light wind and it's really fun. No need for big cumbersome wing to handle and control.

Select to expand quote
agree

Ju_foil
NSW, 114 posts
4 Dec 2022 8:31AM
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Select to expand quote
north_kiter said..
I don't want to derail the thread, but I was thinking about getting an 8m but decided to get a sup foil board instead.

I use to struggle under 15kn at 100Kg 6'3, 1350cm foil until I got a 6'6 x 30 x 140L board. I can now wing in 12-13kn low end with a 6.5m SLS (boom way better than handles and doesn't damage the board, fly one handed etc, came from using 22 unit).

The sup board costs about the same price as a 8m wing, and because of the longer waterline length of the board and the extra volume and stability it planes so easy and if you miss a gust you just wait for the next one, very easy to balance on a board 26-30 wide.

Any board with the same design as a Kalama E3 or new DW shapes, with foil tracks forward, and with chimes (very important for carving) and volume more to the front, having these characteristics allows the board to carve/turn easy without touching the rails and the board feels smaller, like a 5'4 as foil tracks are forward. I don't jump but tack, gybe etc and don't notice the length that much, only really in tacks, it's light too 7.5kg. I can comfortably ride this setup up to around 18 knots, and now this board is used 50% of the time for me, just makes it so easy, no more struggling to get on foil in sketchy gusty conditions and made winging fun in light winds.

I can also sup foil now too :)

So anyone considering a larger hand wing, I would recommend considering a sup foil board, or a 6'6 downwind board, the extra water line length will allow you to wing in light wind and it's really fun. No need for big cumbersome wing to handle and control.


Agree with this for sure, yesterday was bugger all wind in Sydney and I was bored so took a 6ft 5 dw sup out with big foil and 5.5m DLAB in flat water. With the extra board length can generate a few more knots of apparent wind. I was doing 2 pumps then up in probably 8 knots of wind (maybe less). Once up I had power, the tricky bit was transitions. wind was so light the only way I could stay on foil was to tack or pump all the way through the gybe with a fairly wide arc. For me at 72kg and 5-10 height, i would never get a wing bigger than the 5.5m definitely the area of the wing is not the limiting factor for me. That said some other people might prefer the big sail option.

north_kiter
NSW, 233 posts
4 Dec 2022 8:51AM
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Ju_foil said..

north_kiter said..
I don't want to derail the thread, but I was thinking about getting an 8m but decided to get a sup foil board instead.

I use to struggle under 15kn at 100Kg 6'3, 1350cm foil until I got a 6'6 x 30 x 140L board. I can now wing in 12-13kn low end with a 6.5m SLS (boom way better than handles and doesn't damage the board, fly one handed etc, came from using 22 unit).

The sup board costs about the same price as a 8m wing, and because of the longer waterline length of the board and the extra volume and stability it planes so easy and if you miss a gust you just wait for the next one, very easy to balance on a board 26-30 wide.

Any board with the same design as a Kalama E3 or new DW shapes, with foil tracks forward, and with chimes (very important for carving) and volume more to the front, having these characteristics allows the board to carve/turn easy without touching the rails and the board feels smaller, like a 5'4 as foil tracks are forward. I don't jump but tack, gybe etc and don't notice the length that much, only really in tacks, it's light too 7.5kg. I can comfortably ride this setup up to around 18 knots, and now this board is used 50% of the time for me, just makes it so easy, no more struggling to get on foil in sketchy gusty conditions and made winging fun in light winds.

I can also sup foil now too :)

So anyone considering a larger hand wing, I would recommend considering a sup foil board, or a 6'6 downwind board, the extra water line length will allow you to wing in light wind and it's really fun. No need for big cumbersome wing to handle and control.



Agree with this for sure, yesterday was bugger all wind in Sydney and I was bored so took a 6ft 5 dw sup out with big foil and 5.5m DLAB in flat water. With the extra board length can generate a few more knots of apparent wind. I was doing 2 pumps then up in probably 8 knots of wind (maybe less). Once up I had power, the tricky bit was transitions. wind was so light the only way I could stay on foil was to tack or pump all the way through the gybe with a fairly wide arc. For me at 72kg and 5-10 height, i would never get a wing bigger than the 5.5m definitely the area of the wing is not the limiting factor for me. That said some other people might prefer the big sail option.


I had a good session too yesterday on big board, the heineken gybe is the answer in light wind transitions

Strat919
26 posts
6 Dec 2022 11:08PM
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CFLKiter said..

AGK7 said..


JohnnyTsunami said..
Sorry I never got it going! Kept pumping it up and riding a smaller wing. It's big and heavy but powerful. Handles are great. A guy was riding the same one in close to 20knots and it was looking good and not backwinding or anything.




Thanks! I'll have to figure out just how heavy it is, but it looks promising and my 7m CWC is getting a little bagged out after heavy use.



I got to ride the 8m North and 8m CWC back to back today in 10-12 gusty conditions with my 60l Armstrong FG and Cabrinha H1000. I weigh 195lbs and I am 6ft tall for reference. I think the CWC is significantly more stable and well balanced than the North. Also despite being slightly wider the CWC never felt like a big wing, but the north felt like an unforgiving big beast. I had a terrible time with the north catching its wing tips while doing a stink bug start on my 60l board. Had no issues with the CWC. The North also fluttered like crazy on the leach while riding. Hopefully that was just a bad copy issue though. Honestly it was no competition in my opinion the CWC was the clear winner. It honestly felt like I was fly my 6m in powered up conditions which is awesome considering how light the wind was.

Was rooting for North because I like competition and I am a fan of handles but it just didn't work out.

I agree with this. The 8m CWC just wants to sit in the perfect place in light winds and doesn't feel big at all. It has tons of grunt. I wing at the OBX and was watching other wingers with the 8 CWC and North 8's at the same time.. While in taxi, CWC's were maintaining a good angle in light wind while the North 8's were struggling to keep their center strut out of the water. This was consistently the case. My other wings are SLS Slick's, so I like the hard handles and booms better, but the CWC just works.

meoweth
6 posts
10 Dec 2022 4:09AM
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I have both 8m cwc and north light wind. My 8m cwc is the wing I use 80% of the time as I'm wind disadvantaged. The 8m north is basically garbage compared to the cwc. So hard to do a jibe the big longer strut will fall down. Whereas easy to do jibe on the cwc. The cwc is alot easier to control and not get backwinded. The north gets backwinded super easy. In terms of low end the cwc just pumps up better in 7-9 knots. Feel kinda scammed by north by buying their wing. Feels like I got a 2nd generation generic cheap wing (naish or takoon) and they slapped a light wind logo on it and double the price.

Also fyi I got the 6m cwc and it cannot compare to the 8m cwc either. U need way more wind for the 6m, to the point where it's not for light winds anymore. U will need 12-14 for the 6m whereas it's 7-9 for the 8m.

beached57
54 posts
10 Dec 2022 6:01AM
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meoweth said..
So hard to do a jibe the big longer strut will fall down.



i know what you mean about that. i found if i tried to flag it out during a light wind jibe, the center strut will hit the water. so i just went back to the old school overhead jibe and that alleviated the problem. based on what most say about these two 8m wings (CWC/North), it sounds like i made the wrong decision on the North...but i just cannot deal with those flimsy CWC handles, so i still wouldn't trade my North for a CWC. And the more sessions i have on the North, the better i feel with it.

Fishdude
283 posts
10 Dec 2022 6:49AM
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beached57 said..

meoweth said..
So hard to do a jibe the big longer strut will fall down.




i know what you mean about that. i found if i tried to flag it out during a light wind jibe, the center strut will hit the water. so i just went back to the old school overhead jibe and that alleviated the problem. based on what most say about these two 8m wings (CWC/North), it sounds like i made the wrong decision on the North...but i just cannot deal with those flimsy CWC handles, so i still wouldn't trade my North for a CWC. And the more sessions i have on the North, the better i feel with it.

There's a guy on a German forums who makes hard handles for the CWC. I think they snap together over the soft fone handles.
Personally I'm waiting to what 2023 CWC has in store for its handles.

Strat919
26 posts
10 Dec 2022 9:36AM
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Fishdude said..

beached57 said..


meoweth said..
So hard to do a jibe the big longer strut will fall down.





i know what you mean about that. i found if i tried to flag it out during a light wind jibe, the center strut will hit the water. so i just went back to the old school overhead jibe and that alleviated the problem. based on what most say about these two 8m wings (CWC/North), it sounds like i made the wrong decision on the North...but i just cannot deal with those flimsy CWC handles, so i still wouldn't trade my North for a CWC. And the more sessions i have on the North, the better i feel with it.


There's a guy on a German forums who makes hard handles for the CWC. I think they snap together over the soft fone handles.
Personally I'm waiting to what 2023 CWC has in store for its handles.


Can you share a link for the hard handles for the CWC:)



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Forums > Wing Foiling General


"North Light Wind 8.0 short review" started by beached57