NSP SUP/Wing Pro Foil review by Wingsurfer Journal

About Wingsurfer Journal
This NSP SUP/Wing Pro Foil review was written by Wingsurfer Journal, France. With the French being one of the main markets in water sports, WingSurfer Journal is a publication reporting on gear, destinations and riders for the French-speaking market.

The magazine spawned from Windsurf Journal (related to SUP Journal), a publication that closely works together with distributors to get their hands on the latest gear for reviews.

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What we say about the SUP/Wing Foil PRO

“This new generation of SUP-Wing foiling boards takes engineering cues from the latest Americaʼs Cup foiling boats. By adapting key concepts to the specific shape requirements of SUP foiling, we greatly improved bottom-end sub-foiling performance, getting you up and foiling early with minimal effort.

Compared to the last generation of foil boards that often featured flat-bottom hulls, the improved shapes of the SUP Foil Pro bring a totally new experience for intermediate-to-expert foilers with the most pronounced stringer line for increased directional momentum.”

What Wingsurf Journal.com says about the SUP/Wing Foil PRO

“This NSP board has an innovative design. Its hull shape intrigued us the minute we unpacked it and saw the front shape! Designed for SUP and winging it offers a longer shape compared to some of the other boards in the test. Going over the design choices made, we observed that its hull is very pronounced at the front with a more traditional shape towards the back.”

“The reduction in tail helps reducing the wet surface of the hull and the board is much thicker at the back than in the front. The rails are well-rounded in the front section of the board, and the EVA is very comfortable, featuring a kicktail and a center spine that really helps your strapless riding.”

“Strap inserts are configured for central placement at the back and the option of two different angles at the front. These boards come without decompression valves and the leash plug is centered behind the kicktail.”

“The twin-track mast mount features markings to help your setup, and the board has two handles on the deck and bottom. Using the top one comes naturally, while the bottom one can get slippery.”

The test

“Compared to the rest of the boards, this shape stands out. Its specs are different from the boards we tested that are aimed at winging exclusively as this is a dual shape, meaning it is suitable for both SUP foiling and winging.”

“As a result, its shape is narrower and longer than most of its competitors and this translates to a feel on the water, which is not the easiest to get going on. When you’re standing still, the narrow shape will make itself felt. But for a 5’10” it is reasonably floaty and as an 80kg test rider a knee start posed no problems.”

“Once you try a standing start, this board really comes into its own. With the additional length riders shouldn’t worry about a stance on the back – the minute you start pumping the board takes on speed, urging you to get over the foil.”

“The little extra length also comes in handy when you’re getting on lift in difficult conditions as it helps gaining speed and momentum that you pick up from bumps. The rails prevent sticking with their round shape and so does the front of the board with its dual concave.”

“It’s interesting how every wave and swell turns into an opportunity to have fun. We sailed the NSP with our foil set to the front of the rails to help lift, and because of the markers it was easy to remember the settings or adjust them incrementally.”

“It’s a very nice board and we enjoyed its comfortable ride flying over waves and swell. When we got to the strapped segment of the test, we tried out some stances and felt the centered stance worked best for us. You will be able to find your preferred setting within the settings on offer. We tweaked the front foot stance a little bit for our style of riding as the team rides with their upper body fairly “into the wind” but it is a detail at best that won’t affect your riding too much. Riders who are looking for a strict zero-zero stance can do that too, as the inserts are all there.”

“The board is very comfortable and we experimented with the different settings, exploring maximum speed, jumps or surfing style – this shape will do them all. Plus, thanks to its volume we were able to do different poses. Intermediate riders as well as experienced ones are going to have a lot of fun with this board thanks to it float and versatility. Getting up on the foil when paddling can be challenging at low speeds, but how cool is it to simply switch from paddle to wing with one run back to the beach?”

“If we had to pick one stand-out quality for this board it’s “riding comfort”.”

Verdict

“This board came as a surprise to the test panel. It may not have the width that some of the others have, making it not ideal for total beginners, but the in return, take-offs are comfortable for all levels of riders and we really enjoyed using it.”

“Light- to medium riders get to switch between SUP and winging, making this an interesting . This is a great option for anyone with waves and wind at their home spot. Heavier riders are well-advised to look at the larger sizes in the range, and NSP offers several of those, right up to their 7’2″ with 136 liters for that versatile board that never misses a session!”

TEST CONDITIONS OF THE NSP SUP/WING PRO Foil REVIEW

Wind: Between 5 and 25 knots
Conditions: Flat, choppy, swell, small waves
Spots: La Garonne, Almanarre, La Nautique, Leucate
Hours on the water: 8 hours, 11 sessions

PROS

• Ultra flat deck and comfortable EVA
• SUP and Wing foil board
• Feels light under your feet

CONS

• Unstable at stops

NSP SUP/Wing Pro Foil 5.10 2021

Beginners: ⭐⭐⭐
Intermediaries: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Advanced: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Experts: ⭐⭐⭐

Equipped: ⭐⭐⭐
Weight: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stability: ⭐⭐⭐
Take-off: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Versatility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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