Unleashing the Power: the GWA Wingfoil BIG AIR World Champion Wing - GONG Droid UPE Review
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- My take on the highly anticipated GWA Wingfoil BIG AIR World Champion Wing - the incredible GONG Droid UPE! Join me as I give my thoughts whilst at the beach at Pornichet, France, home spot to the GONG Galaxy Space Centre.
I take a look a short look at the construction of the wing, how it feels whilst riding and the key features where it feels like a step forward from everything else to date, from the new UPE material, to the unique canopy construction.
The performance feels like another level has been added, and the monster jumps of more than 11m which this wing achieved in the hands of GONG team rider Julien Rattoti at the recent GWA Wingfoil World Cup in Gran Canaria seem to prove this.
Check out the DROID UPE here:
www.gong-galax...
I don't earn anything from the link - it's just there to help you out :-)
#wingfoil #wingfoiling #gong #surf #wingsurf #summervibes #beach #watersport #goodsessions
The UPE is awesome! Lucky U... CU on the water 🤠
Yes it is! My apologies for not yet arranging our riding day! I will be in touch soon buddy :-)
What ball park PSI do you aim for in your Droid UPE?
I know that gong recommend a touchy feely method rather than the pump gauge as the valve inhibits the reading. I was aiming for 8psi so far and the wings did not feel particularly stiff?
Honestly, I was skeptical when Patrice's touchy feely way of gauging the wing pressure came out, as at the time I was using a digital gauge, and figured that it was accurate. However, I learned the touchy feely method, and now I use only that. It works perfectly. Pump that UPE up until when you lean onto the wing, it only just creases a little. It will be stiff!
Nice review I thought the panel layout was to stop the stretching of the canopy by alternative weave bias but I could be totally wrong.
I have the 7m droid 2022 it's heavy and more suited to slower foils imo
How are the 2023 droids are they more nimble.
I'd love the upe but I've already sold my kidney for foils
Thanks buddy. I have the 2023 Droid in the regular construction in 6.5m. It's very light and very easy to manipulate. Great wings, and as you can see from other videos, not slow at all in 6.5m! Despite the massive step forward the 2023 Droid is from the 2022, it is still a different universe to the new shape in UPE. But this is OK. The budget is different because of the materials. I would still recommend the 2023 Droid to everyone, if that is the correct choice for the budget. Also, they are very neutral - more so than GONG indicates with their website information. Not as neutral as Neutra, but very good indeed. As a light and powerful low-wind solution with excellent agility and neutrality on a great price, the 2023 Droid in 6.5m is extremely good. Upwind is also fine.
Thank you for the great review. I am looking for a new ultra light wind wing (6 - 10 knots). Due to travel restricionts I am limited to Gong Curve XL with Hipe Cruz 7'6. I weigh 76kg, 185 cm, intermediate skills. I have a F-one 8m wing that will easily handle this, but I want something smaller with quicker handling. I am thinking of possibly using a Droid UPE. Would either a 6m or 6.5m Droid UPE work? Worried that the 6.5 m will start feeling big
Hey buddy… I’ve ridden the UPE Droid in 5.5… I have the Perf Droid in 6m… I weigh 100kg, am 183cm and I have also ridden the Curve XL v2… I’m very confident that at your weight, with that long Cruz, you will do very well with the 6m. Probably even also with the 5.5 but honestly, the size of the 6m is really no problem, but I just don’t think you need the 6.5… the 6 is still agile, even more so in UPE than my Perf. Enjoy!
@@wingfoildiary Thanks for the advice. I have a feeling that the 6m will be better for me and it is nice to get some confirmation. I have just placed an order for the 6m and added in a 5m for those days when it is in the mid teens.
Awesome! Enjoy!
hi have you tried the difference with the droid 6 Perf 2024? what changes?
I haven't tried it yet, no. But with what I can see, the most significant change is the slightly higher aspect ratio. I have no doubt that the canopy tension will be better as well. I'm still very happy with my 2023 version, and so the new one can only be better. I've heard that the upwind is better and the Vmax has improved with similar grunt. It's a great wing.
Any comments for someone looking to put together their first Gong quiver? Advanced rider, but nothing exciting, riding flat water, wind swell, tacks 360's behind the back, all the boring freestyle moves. Curious on a real world comment vs what GONG says on the new gear. Sounds like Droid more low end grunt, maybe less top end. Neutra a bit less low end, a bit more top end comfort and up wind angle? Basically I'm just deciding if the Droid is more of a fun all around wing that does well enough in the waves, especially in the UPE, or if I should go like 5.5 Droid and 4.5/3.5 Neutra type quiver. Have you used the boom? Thanks fellow water friend!
82 kg, and yeah, feel like other than the slight bend in the front handle I'd love the boom on the newest team boom only wings. Thanks!
Sorry for the late reply! Ah it’s a difficult question! But if you are not riding larger waves where you generate a lot of speed and need the wing to be “not there” behind you, then I think the Droid gives more. It has more grunt, more speed, and I believe that it does ride upwind better BUT it pulls harder and so overall needs more effort. If you’re looking for superchill the the Neutra is so great but if you want a bit of a little monster in the character, the Droid is great. My programme is similar to yours in that I have many light days and a mix of flat water and sea but with wind sweep rather than ground swell. For that I think the Droid… for sizes, even for the guys over 90kg I think that if you’re going UPE or Aramid, you don’t need more than 5.5… I have Perf in 6 but have ridden UPE and it has quite a bit more. For the other sizes, I don’t know what your top end is, but don’t take a gap more than 1m… hope that helps!!! Oh yes - the boom! Yes, I have ridden it and it is crazy stiff but so light. You cannot go wrong with that, really.
Haha, ah you’re 2 days late! I ordered a 5.5 Droid, 4.5 3.5 Neutra but was tempted to get a 4 Droid just to see what I liked better. I can still do that, just already struggling to wait 2 months!! I hear you’re advice, that’s sort of what I was thinking, but never know until you try!
Awesome!