Balancing Wing Foiling Gear
Over the last five years we have been through yearly foil upgrades. Balancing each of the board/foil combinations. The two of us have had nine front foils each, and six stabilizers each, shimming all but the first two. Keep in mind over five years we foiled year round. So we have had a lot time dialing in each setup to help us improve. Lesson here is find a great package, and stick with it for a season or more so you progress faster, and have more fun.
We started foiling five years ago with the Armstrong 132 ltr board, 2400 front foil, 300 stabilizer. That setup was perfect for beginners to learn. We had a local say “that is like training wheels”, “Yup, but we are foiling while you crash”. There is a another lesson to learn here. Don’t go too small too soon on board and foil. You will know when you can go smaller. At that point upgrade to the next level of gear, or stay where you are if it makes you happy. Don’t let marketing decide your upgrades.
This is the reason I made this post. Spring 2026 we worked down to the UHA 670 from the HA 780/580 great foils. We like the 670 but for our mid summer light winds in New England the 670 was not enough foil. So we added the 870, and it opened up the light wind foiling. We found the 870 with its amazing glide gave us so much more time in all maneuvers. It slows everything down, well it feels like it, I am only talking a few seconds, but that is huge.
Important thing you need to do while dialing in your board/foils is to have equal foot pressure. Having windsurfed for decades, and then wind foiled, I have always been back foot heavy. So I started off wing foiling with a wide stance, which held me back. I have worked on moving my feet closer together with better results.
Some great foil riders do not like equal foot pressure, but they are more aggressive then me. For me equal foot pressure makes my riding more fun, easier to control, with lots of glide.
Now that we are foiling in bigger wind range (8-34 kts). I pushed back to the old habit of back foot pressure for the comfort. To solve this I went through a re-tuning of my board/foil balance to correct my stance. Doing this I found the the perfect equal foot pressure setting, and broke my old habits, hopefully for good. This setup has been by far my biggest breakthrough in years.
My setup is all Armstrong, A+ Performance 865 mast, 60 fuse, UHA 870, and Speed 180 with blue + red shims. The back of my mast is 2-mm forward of the top of the “5” number on the FG 105 board. I had been using the Dart 140 with both shims for the last seven months. But, I was still getting the burn in my back leg on long runs, even after moving the mast to dial it in.
So I purchased the Speed 180 which I had used the year prior and Bingo! The stability and feel of this stabilizer is so much better for my riding. Speed was the same, or even better since I am more stable. My tacks improved, my footwork improved, my one handed wave riding improved, and my feet are in the same place getting on foil as foiling. That says a lot! I have been in the Flow State more since I did this final tuning then in the last 18 months.
We still have the UHA 670 for bigger breeze, but I have not used it since I did this change. And there have been days with puffs to 32 kts. I just go smaller on the wing, and enjoy the glide.
Couple of things that will help you get close on your foil balance. First with your board upside down on the ground, and foil connected to the board, lift the board with your knuckles on the center of lift of the front foil. This is normally about 40% aft of the leading edge. If the board comes off the ground level you are at a good starting point. If not move the mast fore or aft and dial the setting. Take your time and do this lift slowly, with no wind and on level ground. This is only a starting point.
Adding shims to the stabilizer will change the balance point since you are changing the angle of attack (AOA) of the stabilizer. By adding shims on the Armstrong setup you need to move the mast slightly forward to counteract the reduction in AOA of the stabilizer.
I like the stabilizer at zero degrees with the fuselage, it gives me more glide and a little looser feel. But slightly harder to get foiling in light conditions. But, the 870 solves that issue. Shimming is a whole nother level of tuning the balance, if you want to take the time. I suggest go with no shims to start and find the balance first.
At this point go foiling, ride waves, do all the maneuvers you know, and see how it feels. If your feet are in the same spot when you take off as when you foil, you are very close. The real gain is when you keep tweaking the mast setting, and or shims to get a balance.
This is the same lesson learned again, and again. We take a jump with each upgrade over the years because we are ready. Stick with a setup for the season to dialed it in so you can progress. In my opinion this is the key to improving, and having more fun foiling.
A note on my board size. I know some readers may say, go smaller on your board. I will say why! I weigh 168 lbs (76kg) with all my wet winter gear I am about 190 lbs (86 kg). I tried the 90 ltr FG board two years ago in winter gear, and did not like it at that point. Since then I have had my second knee replaced so, I might go back to it. But we have days where getting home is a slog or paddle, and I do not want to do that on a sinker. Same thing when I windsurfed, I liked shorter, wider, volume boards. We all have to find what works for us, and I love the board I am on at this time.
Now that I have given you my balanced suggestions and setup, I suggest you find the foil/board/wing setup you love, and spend the time dialing it in. You know you are close when you move the mast 2-3mm and it is a huge change. This is such a fun process, and so much easier when you do not have a lot of foils.
Let me know how you dial in your setup.
Have Fun Every Day!
Paul
