Sorry for the insanely long title above - apparently, it's going to boost the SEO of this page so more people can find it. Either way - let's get your gear dialed! If you are in a hurry and just want to buy your gear ASAP, whip out your credit card and click the links below. Otherwise, see further below for an explanation of why I picked this gear.

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Board: Appletree Mid

Mast: AFS UHM Carbon Mast - 80cm 

Fuse: AFS Fuselink - Long / Standard 

Front Wing: AFS Enduro for versatility or AFS Silk for dreamy carving in waves 

Stab: Silk HA

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Why this gear? Let's break it down. 

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The Mid. When I started foiling a few years ago, everyone told me two things: 1) Get a board under 5'0 and 2) Don't buy above 40L. So what did I get at the time? A 5'0 44L board just to piss my friends off. But seriously - the best decision ever. It was an Amundson Nubby and was exactly what I needed as a full-on foil kook to build confidence in the waves. Super easy to get up on and to this day I still take it out all the time when I'm feeling lazy. Unfortunately, my wife is now using it so I've put in an order for a custom mid-length that should be ready soon - stoked! Anyways, Midlength board started to become a thing about two years ago - pretty sure the Portal Enigma was one of the first modern day mids. Since then, every brand has hopped on the midlength trend and for good reason. Not everyone is trying to surf like Mister Bennetts. When you are learning the #1 most important thing is wave count - and #2 conserving your energy. Mids are made to do exactly that. The industry has learned over time that narrower, longer boards are much better for getting into waves early than the super short prone boards that were more popular years ago. And if you live somewhere with more paddling than a traditional beach break, they are an absolute must! I live at a point break with long 500m paddles back to the line-up and it is BRUTAL on my 4'2 or 4'6 but not bad at all on a mid. So in short, mids are awesome and will always have a place in your quiver. 

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So why the Appletree? Good question! Well, they happen to be one of the best board manufacturers in the world. And the boards are crazy durable - which is exactly what you want as a beginner. 

Their patented build process ensures the stiffest board (we've ever felt) that is still light, and completely water proof! AppleTree's homegrown foam is completely closed cell, meaning aint even if you crack your rail and stay in the water, your board will NEVER take on water. Period.  Their insane foam also eliminates the need for a vent plug, which can be common source of failure in boards.

 

The Foil Setup. Out of all the major foil brands I find it interesting that AFS hypes their products the least. Especially in the US. They simply let the community do it for them.  Just take a look at the Progression Project Forum today! Even though the Silk launched two years ago, it's still being talked about like it's the hottest thing on the market. And crazier - the Enduro which launched less than a year ago has an absolute bonkers thread with 200+ comments. In short - the community loves these products. ​

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The worst part about AFS is the price. The stuff is expensive. But - it's also made in France by AFS which means they stand by their product and the manufacturing process. Even cooler - if you fall in love with say, the Silk 850, but in the future they discontinue that line and replace it by something else, AFS will always be happy to make you a custom Silk 850 for you. They have all the molds of the products they have made in the past and are one of the only brands that can do this. And if you buy something from them and there is ANY type of defect, they will immediately ship you a new one. Of the 5+ wings I've purchased, only one had a tiny tiny tiny defect - honestly looked purely cosmetic. But I shot the picture to the guys over at The Foil Shop and they had a new pristine wing in my hands within days. So overall - buy once, cry once perfectly applies here. Get into the AFS ecosystem with a mast and fuse and you are golden. For that, I recommend the super versatile 80 UHM mast and standard (longer) fuse. Don't sweat the fuse purchase too much either - AFS is super smart to add two mounting spots on it so if you want to try a slightly shorter fuse feel, just mount your stab on the shorter spot. Genius! 

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For the front wing, it's all about what you are looking for. If you live in an area with a long point break and an easy walk back, pumping probably isn't that important. For that kind of setup, the Silk 1050 is a great wing to learn on that is super easy to turn. I happen to think it also pumps great. But - if you are looking for maximum glide and pump (at the expense of easy carving) then the Enduro line is perfect. The good news is that with the Fuselink fuse, you can now use both the Silk and Enduro in your setup - so maybe buy both!? 

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For the stab, I would honestly chat with the guys at The Foil Shop. It all comes down to your weight, which front wing size you decide on, and what type of riding you want to prioritize. Josh and Patrick will get you dialed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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