Test freeride foils 2024: Duotone Sting Ray 126 SLS and Duotone Aero Free 1250 - the athletes
Surf Testteam
· 21.10.2024
The Sting Ray 126 fits into the Duotone concept of particularly compact foil boards, from which only the large 136 entry-level model with a length of 2.28 metres stands out. Accordingly, the test board appears slightly smaller in the group, but enables safe tacking even up to 90kg rider weight. The continuous deck pad extends pleasantly far in front of the mast track. The foil impresses with its low weight and well thought-out combination of components. The fuselage and front wing are tightened with particularly thick M8 screws. The front wing with its wide support sits just as securely on the fuselage as the mast, which interlocks with the fuselage thanks to the shape of the connection point (photo page 30). The trailing edge of the high-quality carbon fibre mast is not particularly sharp, both wings are nicely rounded at the ends.
On the water
We had two sets from Duotone at our disposal. The characteristics with the smaller wing are classic freerace: you need more speed to take off, experience a short glide almost like on a fin before the wing offers enough lift, then becomes very fast and can be edged in a sporty but controlled manner. The board also needs good planing speed when pumping up. If you push it backwards hastily with a lot of pressure, it shoots up steeply and plops right back down again. The 1250 wing can do all this easier, more controllable and therefore more "freeride" - for us the better choice and also a really good choice in comparison! The 1250 Duotone is livelier than the Severne Alien, but a tad tamer than the GunSails Hy-Foil, making it a very successful alternative for those who may already have some foil experience. Both wings are stable and run straight ahead with good height control, but in the jibe the additional 250 square centimetres open the way to much faster success. The 1000 requires sensitive foot control and good speed, whereas on the large front wing you really have a lot of time, but can also vary the radii in a sporty way. And thanks to the compact trim of the loop and mast position, you can not only slip into the loops early when pumping, but your foot also slides into the new loop almost automatically when jibing. If you do crash, the boardshape will cushion the impact nicely.
Surf summary of the Duotone Sting Ray 126 SLS and Duotone Aero Free 1250
The 1000 wing is fast, sporty to edge with sail pull and is very freerace orientated. The 1250, on the other hand, convinces as a sporty freeride foil: with good speed, it is also easy to edge and flies light-footedly through jibes in variable radii. It doesn't overwhelm, but it does require a bit of tip-toe feeling.
Easy to control and sporty
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Technical data Duotone Sting Ray 126 SLS and Duotone Aero Free 1250
- Weight board: 8.7 kg*
- Foil weight: 4.57 kg*
- Foil mast: 90 cm*
- Fuselage: 95 cm*
- Front wing: 91 cm*
- Stabiliser: 42.5 cm*
- Price Board: 2599 Euro
- Price Foil: 1752/1802 Euro
- Info: duotonesports.com
*surf measurement
