mikesids said..
Go to the NZ Sailing website, look under the Manta Wing Board, there's a copy of a review I did on the Manta 110

Thanks, I stand corrected! I am always glad to get actual information.
And again, I did not say anything on the qualities of this model.

Here is the link which does not seems well indexed by Google: at the end of the page:
www.nzsailing.com/manta-inflatable-supfoil-wingfoil-board-1441576

Piros, this is the Windsurfing board, not the foilboard model. Same error as Flatfoot73.

clayisland said..
Hi, any info on the lateral or side to side stiffness or flex?

No independent 3rd party review yet.

Patrice told me it is really as stiff as a hard board wrt flex of the mast relative to the board, as it was the goal of all the effort in designing the carbon plate: you do not add an expensive 2.5kg hard to make(*) to a board without pondering the pros and cons. And I trust him on this as it matches what we see on the video and I have known him for years, but it is just my subjective opinion here.

On the "soft" (trampoline) feeling of inflatables underfoot, or for people not using straps and having their feet far from the median line (maybe this was the kind of flex you were speaking of), I guess you will have to wait for a wide range of customers to have tried them to get their opinions (end of August), as it is either subjective, or depending on the way you ride it. I would guess that, like others have said above, for these short sizes inflatables are quite stiff, nothing like 8'+ inflatables. But we will see.

The Gong team rides either in footstraps (the front foot at least) or on narrow surf foil boards, so I do not think you will get feedback from them for riding with feet far from the center line, but who knows? you may try to email them your questions.

(*) Molded under 120 metric tons of pressure. I do not have the figure for the plate mold, but the mold for the Gong carbon mast+fuz cost is USD 25,000... You cannot afford to have this quality of manufacturing in reasonable prices for small production numbers.

clayisland said..
Hi, any info on the lateral or side to side stiffness or flex?

I didn't see or hear any mention of this.

Hello
I haven't tried the gong but own the Indiana 6.0 inflatable board. I am a beginner but managed today to cross the whole lake on the foil (a minute or so) with my Duotone Wing. So on my 4th Session with best wind of all sessions (14-18 kts) I got going :).

Thanks for all this good Info here.

As my last hard board was for windsurfing 15 years ago, I don't have a direct comparison with other boards. But the board did not feel flexy while flying. I took the straps of but my front foot was there where the V straps would be, so a bit off center. I read a review of somebody who tried an Fone inflatable board and he had problems that his legs started to hurt as he had to constantly react to flex. I did not have that feeling today (only a big smile). The videos of the gong and the Indiana look the same (side views when pumping) so I think the flex is not a problem here.

Another thing I like tried once yet was foil surfing on a river with a bungee, board still looks ok, foil got a couple of scratches from the rocks.

So I am pleased with mine, has room in the small car, put it away in Winter (5 Months), as I fall quite a bit the softer top great.

Hi
I used to windsurf about twenty years ago at intermediate level and mainly inland waters before selling up due to lack of windy days and difficulty transporting long heavy boards and bulky expensive kit.
The foiling craze has caught my attention as it seems possible in lighter winds with less bulky kit. Having never used a foil, surf or sup board before I am wondering if I should go the windsurf foil route or hand wing foil route?
This Gong hipe foil & wing setup interests me mainly due to relatively low price and smaller transport size for taking on touring holidays and hopefully less prone to knocks and scrapes than a hard board.
I am 80kg and considering the Gong Hipe 5`5" 145Lts with XL foil and 5m3 hand wing, do you think this would be suitable for a complete foil beginner, will I grow out of it quickly or should I look at something else instead?
Thank you.

ckspark said..
will I grow out of it quickly or should I look at something else instead?

From, what I read, in the air, it is just the length that counts for the performance (well, length + nose weight). I don't think you will outgrow a 5'5" very soon, and going to 5'3" or 5'1" will yield marginal gains.

Wing-less Surf foiling is different, in that the goal of most people is to be able to forgo paddling back up to the peak, and pump their way back. And for this, every bit of performance counts, in the board and foil. But Wing foiling is less demanding.

Keeping in mind that I neither Wing foil nor Wind foil, from what I read, Wind foiling is easier to learn, as you have more control, but people seem to get bored quickly with it on flat water, unless they only like to try to go as fast as possible. The freedom of the Wing on the other hand seems to keep people entertained by trying lots of tricks, as they are less constrained by the wind direction. Plus the gear is simpler as the Wings have more wind range than Windsurfing sails.

Also, at first, you can foil in less wind with a Wind gear. But it seems like that with technique, you can end up being able to get out in very low winds too with Wings. On the last session of the Gong team, Diane was reported flying with 6 to 8 knots of wind, and she is more a casual winger than the rest of the team. But you will need 15+ knots to learn Wingfoiling.

I would be wary of the crossover option, as the added bulk of the board for Windfoiling use may be noticeable when Winging.

IanInca said..
The Hipe looks great but as a first board 5'5 is short. I wing in the sea and I would have struggled with that short board.

Yes, but chop and waves is what makes it hard for you on the sea to keep balance before flying. You are right to advise a longer board in this case. But it is easier on a lake or any place without chop.

As the actress said to the Bishop its not the length but the width that's important. In chop width more important than length in my experience. Mike

ckspark said..
The Gong Hype 6'5" has 170lt and a removable front center fin for easier upwind sailing off the foil and is 0.6kg more over the Hype 5'5". Would these features really make a big difference to the beginner foiler/winger verses the extra weight?

Hi! I'm new to this forum. Windsurfer for > 30 years and rookie winger. I'm very interested by this question, too. I also wonder if I could use the 6'5 for paddling without the foil (just for cruising or playing in the small shore break).. I'm divided between purchasing a 7'11 Rocket Air and waiting for the Gong. I can't try any of them...

Some unboxing videos, while we are at it. Done by a team rider, so you can expect the praises, but the different views of the board is still useful info. French with English subtitles.

ZeroVix said..
Can you please clarify this issue. The 6.5 box is not an actual US box? Will the plate adapter (track) from Slingshot Hoverglide work on this box? Looking to use the SS 84 with the 6.5. Thanks.

The Slingshot nuts and bolts will work with the track. Just make sure your bolts are not too long as they can puncture the board. Gong nuts have a bottom so you cant go through but they are a weird skinny type. I am using the Axis nuts and bolts in my HIPE. I had to trim them to fit.