In addition to our test of freeride foils, we also tested two foil board combinations aimed at absolute foil beginners. The Duotone Stingray still represents the windsurfing classic despite its modern, customised foil dimensions. The second candidate was the Starboard Go-Fly with a much more unconventional shape.
Easy foiling due to more width and length
For beginners to foiling, a board can be a good deal wider and, above all, longer than a more experienced freeride foiler needs. The additional width compared to the approximately 75 centimetre wide freeride foil boards ensures improved stability when planing, but above all in the flight phase, thanks to a noticeably slower and therefore "braver" roll around the longitudinal axis. Around 20 centimetres more length makes take-off easier and reduces the dip angle "in the unlikely event of a crash", which simply results in a less hard impact.
With a lot of flex at the front, the impact should be additionally cushioned - which the Duotone Stingray boards do really well. Anyone who has not yet dared to try foiling can do so easily and safely on these two boards. After the test, we would be confident to sign a flight guarantee for the very first day. The Duotone set is a somewhat sportier variant that can be fun for a long time even after the first few flights!
Duotone Stingray and Aero Free: Shape and details
You could almost think that Duotone has taken the precaution of fitting a double US box in the board to prevent a fin from being mounted accidentally. The foil doesn't look like a slimmed-down trainer, but whether beginners will benefit from the high-quality carbon mast is questionable. But it doesn't do any harm and ensures fun and a low weight as your foil skills grow. So you will probably want to keep the foil in a smaller board even at the next higher flight level.
The wings are solidly screwed onto the surface - but please be careful, as Torx 40 can be used to transfer brute force. The fuselage also sits on the lower end of the mast with the jagged geometry of the contact surface as if it were locked in place and is also connected with M8. This leaves a high-quality, rock-solid impression. The wingtips run out to the side in a very unspectacular manner without much bending. The tips are rounded and the trailing edge of the mast is not unnecessarily sharp.
How Duotone Stingray and the Aero Free-Foil ride
Compared to the Starboard Go, this setup is almost a sports cannon. Its liveliness becomes apparent after just a few metres of planing and the foil takes off impressively early and quickly - a real early starter, you could say. Despite its sporty vein, the board remains stable and uncomplicated to handle at all times, but requires a watchful eye, as it sometimes wants to fly in the upper stick with increasing speed on the 90-centimetre mast. However, with a little more weight shifting forwards, this trait can be easily tamed.
The board itself offers a generous platform at all times - large, stable and spacious - and yet a performance that should leave nothing to be desired for beginners. After a little practice, jibes in flight are very easy and fluid with a long-lasting high flight, but require a little more finesse when steering due to the higher speed. When it does kiss the water - on the straight and in the jibe - it shines with a remarkable "pop" without braking or clapping loudly.
surf conclusion
A very suitable set for foil beginners, which is fun for more than just a few days and, with its high-quality wing, is already in the freeride range.
Technical data
Duotone Sting Ray 136
- Volume: 136 litres
- Length: 228 cm
- Width: 85 cm
- Weight: 10.9 kilos*
- Construction method: ASA sandwich
- Price: 1999 Euro
- Info: duotonesports.com
Duotone Aero Free 1250
- Weight: 4.57 kilos*
- Mast: 90 cm
- Front wing: 91 cm
- Stabiliser: 42.5 cm
- Fuselage: 95 cm
- Price: 1802 Euro
- Info: duotonesports.com
*surf measurement
