With the arrival of the mid-length wingfoil boards, that evolved from the DW paddle boards, there is an extra choice to be made. I’ve been a strong advocate of making wingboards a bit longer. They are just more stable to start in less then ideal conditions, its easier to make speed and as such get on foil.
With KT recently releasing new models, both a normal line that has quite some length, and a mid-length board that is even longer. It seems I wasn’t the only one longing for longer boards.
Now it is time to compare the new KT Drifter 4 and KT Ginxu Super K board models with each other. Which model do I prefer in which kind of conditions. And which one I think will work best for you, so you can choose the right model!
A little bit of background
In the summer of 2022 I first received the KT Wing Drifter 5’4 – 56l board. This board was a gamechanger. Because of its shape and extra length it was so much easier to get on then all the shorter boards I tried. Back then most brands where going for the shortest board possible, reducing swing weight, which was trending. In the process you got boards most people wouldn’t be able to get on in less then ideal conditions. Yes once up in the air they would be great, but better don’t fall off! Ofcourse there were always a handful very good wingfoilers performing on them. But most mortals like me didn’t. And on the 5’4 with just 56L, I never experienced swing weight. I loved this board! But the next size in the line would be less long being just a 4’10.
The Drifter 4
Now with the Drifter 4, the 56l 5’2, I found a board that I like better in almost every aspect. You can check my full review on this board aswell. Every size for the Drifter 4 series goes about 2 inches up in length, making it a very nice a consistent line. For example, a 115Liter Drifter 4 board, is now 6’3 in length, one could argue if this qualifies being a mid-length board aswell.
Besides the 56L I have also tried the Drifter 4, 5’8 with 80 liters. With my weight just over 80 kg, this board was very easy to get up on, and get going even quicker. Still using 1000cm2 area foils.
The 80 liter is just over 25 inch in width.
Ginxu Super K
For comparison I also used the Ginxu Super K 80 and 92 liters which are made for light winds and where I used them in. On the 92L I have mostly used a small race frontwings, with an area of 580cm2. Quite small, but combined with a good powerful 6m wing I could get up on the foil in about 10 knots already! The shape of this board enabled me to make enough speed before for this size of foil.
But I have also done light wind sessions in waves with foils around 1100cm2.
The 92L is 6’5 long by 22 inch in width. The 80L is a 6’1 by 21 inch. Making this mid-length board not a narrow as some of the competition does, going well below 20inch in width. I think that this has been a good decision. Making a board less wide, will also give a board more instability. So what you see happening now in the width, is the same as with boards going shorter and shorter. They get narrower and narrower! This is fine if your level is up for it, and you can carve extremely well. Don’t get me wrong. But even with the Super K I had to balance a bit more.
Which one helps going on foil the fastest?
I’d say the difference is minimal! And it also it depends strongly on the conditions of the water, on how bumpy it gets. The front bottom part of the Super K is quite rounded. This enables you to make speed quite easy. But I found in certain choppy mess with currents going both ways, this shape made it harder to get going in a straight line. Also on reentry during tacks, this shape could stick a bit weird to the water. However, in normal conditions I really enjoyed this board a lot, just going fast in minimal wind conditions!
Which shape works best in the waves
Let’s break first break the term wavering down in 2 parts:
- Windchop riding
- Swell riding, ‘waves that don’t break yet’, windchop and very mellow foam rolling down.
- Riding breaking waves, waves that really break.
When you haven’t been foiling for that long. There is a big change you only ride windchop and swell. In such conditions foils that have a higher aspect ratio, providing long glide really help. Like the Axis Foils Art v2. Turns are usually not that radical. In these kind of conditions the Ginxu Super K works well. If you are experienced, you can really make use of the reduced width of the board. Throwing it from rail to rail.
When the waves started to break, I actually started noticing swing weight. It didn’t feel like I could turn this board as quickly as the shorter Drifter 4. These waves where small though, only 3-4 foot high. In general, I always enjoy waveriding the Drifter 4. No matter what kind of wave there is.
Which shape works best on lakes and flatwater
Usually, lakes have wind gaps from trees and buildings blocking the wind. Shape is one thing, volume is still the most important, enabling you to float around when needed to. In the end, both shapes work. As you don’t have nasty bumps from currents the Super K will enable you to get on foil the quickest in the lightest of winds. If you feel like you do need a bit of extra stability, the Drifter 4 won’t disappoint and still gets you on foil really quick!
Footstrap and mastrack positions
If you like to use footstraps like me, I personally like the V-strap option better. This can be found on all Super K sizes. For the Drifter 4 this is only on the 72Liters and smaller.The larger sizes get 2 single straps on the front.If you use straps, it is more important that the foil position in the masttrack is positioned perfect towards the straps.With the Drifter 4 I have enough track space left in both directions. Making this board work with any foil out there I think. For the Ginxu Super K this might not be the case. I already position my foils far to the rear, with the straps being as wide apart as they can be. On older boards I used to position them far forward. Compatibility with foils where the mast is positioned further away from the frontwing might be an issue.
Conclusion on which model to choose?
For light wind conditions, just blasting around and for nice swell riding in low winds, my choice would be the Ginxu Super K. If this would be my first or second board while still having much to learn, I’d choose the Drifter 4 board. This board has a perfect allround length, and with its width it is still an easy board to balance on.
For just full on waveriding and jumping I’d also choose the Drifter 4 over the Super K as it is a bit more compact and such nicer to ride in more powerful waves and just easier to throw around.