Armstrong Midlength FG Foilboard

I was ready to upgrade from the 100L+ wing board I learned on and took REAL's advice to go for the Armstrong Mid Length.

My specs: I'm 190lbs, winging and prone surfing in Santa Barbara, CA where it's mostly 14-20mph winds (for winging).

I went for the 75L board and have to say I was pretty nervous on my first session or two about whether I'd be able to balance and make it work getting up, hogging between gusts etc. Now that I'm a few sessions in, I'm absolutely loving the board. It's so much more enjoyable to ride than my old board but I still feel plenty stable enough.

**Caveat**: I windsurfed for a few years before learning to kite and also surf a fair bit so I'm reasonable comfortable balancing on smaller boards. Having said that one of my sssions the wind was lighter than anticipated and I never got up on foil but wobbled out and back without too many issues. If the wind really dies (to the point where I have to hold the wing up), I find myself under water up to my shins and it's pretty damn wobbly.

As for prone surfing... I was really hoping to be able to get a board that I could also prone surf as well as wing since keeping a small quiver is preferred for many reasons. I've prone surfed a handful of times on it in small soft waves and have found it works pretty well. I can definitely catch waves earlier and it doesn't feel ridiculous when riding waves or pumping. I'm not sure it will be my board of choice for prone surfing, but just the fact that it's an option is amazing.

Ultimately, having one board that I can wing and prone surf is pretty amazing and this board will be with me on every (surf) trip I take for the forseeable future.

These Armstrong Mid-lengths are the wing foil and prone foil cheat code.

I’ve spent a lot of time this summer on the 5’9” 65L and the 5’1” 45L.
I’m 165lbs, a very experienced and proficient surfer, prone foiler and winger. My standard prone board for the past few years has been the 4’5” 34L Armstong FG and I’ve been winging on the 4’6” 48L FG.

This summer, the 65L has been the absolute session saver for winging and I see no performance loss when it gets a bit windier. The ease at which these boards get forward motion and on to foil is superior to any other board I’ve ridden. It’s such a cheat that it’s tough to even consider a marginal session on the FG – no more struggling to get going, just grab the mid-length, play it safe and get a ripping session.

The 45L for prone foiling has been UNREAL – glides into waves, paddles as fast as an actual surfboard, allowing me to shark around the line up more than I have ever been able to do on my FG board. It catches micro bumps and needs very little wave power to get up on foil. When pumping, if you touch down, the release is instant with the limited surface area of the narrow board. Recently had a rising tide session where everyone else had just left but I was still able to chip into a few waves, and get in a session that would NOT have happened on the FG.

The mid-lengths are narrow so they are a bit tippy paddling or getting going while winging but that is off-set by the glide in forward momentum and the performance – you can lean these over and really rip into turns.

I’ve yet to wing the 45 but thinking it could replace the 48 FG leaving me with nothing but a mid-length quiver…hate to say it – but not sure if the mid-length didn’t just kill the FG for me….

I 💕 the board!

I was leery that it would be unstable due to the narrowness. OK, a bit tippy when not moving, but once trolling along even a bit, it’s FINE. And the pitch stability is of course better due to length. To me, the geometry feels good/familiar in that it’s essentially a surfboard outline. Makes me feel like I could crank turns harder without burying a rail, and forces feet to be more centered.

Another big plus is that I can sit on it comfortably straddled. Great for flipping the wing over or just hanging out for a breather.

It proved itself in sketchy wind conditions at Crissy Field. I was able to get up on foil and return to shore when the wind pooped out — might’ve been slogging or paddling (like many others that day) on my other board. Seems that the rocker leads to a natural seesaw action that helps with pumping. Yet to figure this out fully.

Had a steadier session at Sherman Island where I really started to feel like I was getting into the groove with it. Found it paired well with my F-One phantom 940C front wing.

Though I bought it specifically for Santa Barbara’s light wind, beginning to think this may become my all-round board!

Matt -- I didn't watch your whole video b/c I didn't need to. I am 80kg and went out on my 75L ML for the first time yesterday in 20 to 22 w/ 780HA, 935mm, 50 fuse and 180 tail.

The board is amazing. Gets on foil like nothing I have ever had. I also have the 96DW and regularly have been riding the 80L Armie. I just Wing.

So here it is:

1. Gets up super fast
2. Best pitch control I have ever seen. Never realized how important that is for riding in 3" wind waves w/ lots of chop and confusion. Normally, I touch down occasionally. I hardly touched down at all in 2 hour session in very difficult conditions. And when I did, no matter b/c of the shape.
3. Gybing is easier b/c of pitch control.
4. Riding waves and flagging out (which I just learned) is easier b/c of pitch control.
5. Turning and and gybing easier b/c of narrowness. You just move slightly from toe to heel or heel to toe and it goes where you ask.
6. Feels like it goes up wind even better b/c of narrowness.
7. Feels smaller than my 80L. Of course, it is but did not notice the length at all.
8. DW board is clumsy and awkward to wing with.

I absolutely loved this board. It made me feel like a pro winger. I can't see any reason to use my 80KG or DW board again.

I haven't seen many people raving about this board out there. And I am amazed.

Can't wait to get back on it today.

Oh. If you do touch down when riding waves, NP w. that shape.

This board, shape etc. is a game changer.

TY

Wedgie

My testing notes after one great wing session:

At 85% of my weight in KGs, the 55L ML went awesome on a test run yesterday for my 65kgs. For me sits between my 40L FG and 85L DW board. It will replace my V1 60L as a river swell chaser, single travel board, small wave prone board.

Stinkbug starts were super easy in the waist high+ tide driven swell (narrow width easy on hips) and also able to taxi when slightly underpowered, with board angled up, back leg sunk to the calf and front foot just under. Better front/back stability than the 60L FG. Side stability was a non issue for me (five years winging). The 85%volume ratio was pretty stable compared to my old 60L, letting the top of chops over the rails — not as corky.

On foil, it’s epic given the surfboard size and narrow width. Hard carving with a 795 mast and HA580 without any rail digs!!! Loving life. Really good getting on foil as expected. Upwind perpendicular though big swell with the 795 mast was never so comfortable thanks to narrow width.

Only negative would be the slightly longer tail, which can slap if riding too low in high chop conditions, which is really just user error and an easy technique fix.

If deciding between similar volume FG and ML, it sort of comes down to riding style, goals and predominant conditions.

Great to ride a beautifully shaped board as a surfer turned foiler/winger who started off on table shaped boards.