The Ginxu’s revolutionary design features the Step Bottom (patented), a cutout on the entire bottom rear 1/3 of the board, including the foil box. This creates an unprecedented connection to the foil, in fact the most direct connection of any foilboard to date. It’s like Gravity Control. For touchdowns, it reduces catching and deceleration leading to getting stuck or falling, because when the bottom of the board now recontacts the water, the rear section and foil are still ‘airborne,’ so you receive Automatic Lift and can easily take back off. Most surprisingly of all it makes it incredibly easy to initially take off, because the moment you get a little bit of speed on the water and the board starts to rise to the waters’ surface, even though the front 2/3rds of the bottom of the board is still in the water, the foil is already out of the water and flying, creating an Ultra Boost, getting you going much quicker than traditional designs.
This is the full story of how the Step Bottom (patented) came about: Needs demand change, and in the summer of 2020, Kai came to Keith needing three things. 1. more control of his foil 2. less catch when touching down from radical maneuvers and 3. even less swing weight.
This has always presented a catch-22. Stretch a board out in length so that its thinner and therefore a closer connection to the foil, and the setup becomes much less agile. Go with a compact shape, add cutouts where possible, and you have a more agile board but less connection to the foil, and also more bulk. But Keith already had an idea in mind.
Elliot Leboe, longtime waterman and pioneer windsurfer, kiteboarder, and now foiler, is one of the top videographers on Maui and a KT R&D rider. He’s accumulated more footage of foilers across multiple disciplines than probably anyone. After watching hours of foiling footage for various projects, Elliot noticed that most of the time when people nosedive, it’s not because the board is short, but that when the board touches down, the rear section ‘holds’ the board, and so then with the momentum, the rider goes flying over the front.
His footage validated Keith’s initial idea of removing the rear bottom section, and confirmed the need to add sharper rails on the bottom beveled section, so that like a race board, the rails would immediately release from the water, making it possible to take off with as little friction as possible.
The idea was born. Keith immediately created prototypes in the 25/35/80/110 L sizes. The testing team of Keith, Kai, Elliot and Casey proceeded to run through the range, hunting locations across Maui where no one could see them, sometimes bringing board bags into the water, or if someone passed by on a downwinder, coming off foil and sinking the board, so no one could see the bottom. Stealth mission.
We were all mind-blown. Kai right away started pulling combos with more speed and flow than ever before. Keith and Elliot couldn’t believe how responsive the foil was now becoming. And Casey, winging the bigger sizes, wouldn’t stop saying how much faster these boards took off.
Matt got me on the 4’8” (54L) and recommended I give it a go as a step down from my 4’11” (60L) Armstrong.
The Ginxu certainly takes some adjustment to get used to it with the forward volume and I’d suggest that you take your first session in flat water (not critical waves like I did.)
First off, with an Armstrong foil – I had to get the foil all the way forward in the boxes by flipping the bolts to the back hole (a+ system) on the front two mast bolts. As for technique, you must get forward when you are getting going but once the board has forward momentum, it’s stable and gets up on foil quickly.
The step bottom takes some getting used to as well. Your foil is riding higher in the water column, which gives added performance but your height awareness after being on a regular board is the same, so I breached a few times in the beginning.
I felt the board got on foil quickly and recovered quickly. It carved incredibly with a stable arc and minimum rail grab when buried in a hard turn.
The foot straps are nice and comfortable when riding but not so comfy when laying on them to paddle out…
Overall, this is a great board with a high performance feel and would be great for all riders with the huge variety of sizes offered.
I’m an intermediate winger – been doing it for three years and only want to ride in the ocean on waves with the wing trailing like a damn cape while I rip turns. I’m 5’8” and 165lbs.
M
Matt Nuzzo
Size down in volume for success
The Ginxu is a super fun board to ride. Really stable and controlled when on foil. My first few sessions I was riding this board too big an it felt corky and weird with all the volume up front. I recently dropped down in volume and had a lot more success.
This board takes off really quick off the water with the big stepped tail. The flatter deck gives you stability while riding. It is quick rail to rail and the weight in the nose gives you a lot of control through turns. This board likes to be ridden off the tail like a surfboard.
I was riding the Armstrong MA1225 with 235 tail and blue shim and it likes to be all the way forward in the tracks. The stock foot straps are the best adjustable windsurf strap that I have used. Very plush and comfortable.
Overall I'm really stoked on the Ginxu and will recommend it for riders that are looking to drop down in volume. So if you are riding 120L, then go of the 105L. You will be stoked with the performance upgrade and easy take off.
J
Joe
Old F’ers can ride the Ginxu too
Well I was nervous with my body placement on the shorter board and that negative volume with less 105 vs 115 ltrs placement aft where the step is BUT in a half hour I got it worked out and this board takes off and up on foil just as quick OR faster than the 115 Wingdrifter 2023 wind was 13 17 kts with 1850@235 5m wing just so much fun on more compact shape at 185 lbs and 5 m hooded suit I’m close to 200 lbs.
couldn’t be happier waited over a year before I got one of these beauties so STOKED dawn patrol tomorrow love everthing about it to most they seem pretty radical and it’s just a gimmick the step tail but it’s 100% real deal makes everthing easier up here on the Great Lakes is real world variable shifting wind and it WORKS so if works here it will work anywhere. I’m a old f’er so what makes it easier is better when you said in first review if you got grey hair stick with the Wingdrifter and I said o fuck I guess I will never ride that if Matt says that but 👍 not so just pick the right size and go for it!
A
Andrés
Amazing!
I was hesitant at first thinking that these Pro design might be too radical for my intermediate skills, but as soon as I adjusted my starting positioning to compensate for the volume difference, the rewards were even bigger than I anticipated. Im starting to think of a smaller sibling now. This board and sport are so much fun! Thank you Real team for carrying this great product. 🙏🏼
