The rule with wings is that the thicker the diameter of the front tube and centre strut, the stiffer the structure. To prevent a wing from feeling spongy on the water, either the tube must be thick or the inflation pressure must be very high. To avoid putting too much strain on the material, many manufacturers therefore rely on thick front tubes and struts. However, large tubes always mean more material and therefore a higher weight - which is why the requirements are so strict."Stiffness" and"low weight" not always so easy to reconcile.
This is exactly where manufacturer Ocean Rodeo came in by designing the Glide front tube and strut not from the standard material, but from a very stiff but also light laminate material - christened "Aluula" by the manufacturer.
The idea: Due to the good stiffness values of the Aluula material, the front tube and centre strut can be designed thinner than usual without sacrificing stiffness. The thinner construction should in turn save weight. The very strong material should also be able to withstand higher inflation pressures without any problems; the centre chute is inflated with up to 12 psi.
In this clip you can already see the Wing in action:
This design is intended to make the flagship model Ocean Rodeo Glide A-Series 40 per cent lighter than the industry standard. A 5.0 Wing is said to weigh just 2.15 kilos and set the bar high in terms of handling.
Several test sizes of the Ocean Rodeo Glide Wing have already arrived at the editorial office and we have already been able to put the Wing in the water for a first test session.
You will soon find out whether the Wing can fulfil expectations in a detailed test report. Stay tuned!
Further information is available HERE on the manufacturer's website.
