Treve Jones is very familiar with our wings, foils, foilboards. He is an expert foiler who logs countless water hours. Lately he has been using the latest CWC Aluula in 6m paired with a mid length board and a Seven Seas foil on the north shore of Kauai. Jones chooses to use a hard handle up front, and hybrid in the back- a pairing that is unique to the way F-One has been designing its interchangeble handles.
Insights from Treve
“I used a 6m in 5 mph with gusts around 20 mph, with a 1400 Seven Seas on an 80-liter carbon F-One DW board. I used the hard handle in front and the semi-rigid handle in the back.
It generates great power to pump up on foil, and it definitely generates better power in light winds than the 2023 CWC. The main strut is much stiffer than the CWC 2022 models. Also, the flag-out handle and main handles are much stiffer than the 2022 models, which also helps to generate power. There is a very slight flex in the main strut that allows for more power generation. The 2023 CWC needed an up-and-down motion or an oval-type motion to generate the most power to get up on foil. The 2024 CWC is a completely different wing. One can use the standard in-and-out motion to generate power to get up on foil.”
“When up on foil, the low end is improved over previous models because the center strut and two other struts are lighter (Aluula material), so the wing is lighter and stays flying without that heavy feeling that can take you off foil. With the mid-length boards allowing for faster board speed, this CWC combined with a 1500 V2 Seven Seas will make light winds fun and more accessible to the average winger.
This wing was similar to the Strike V4 in terms of stability. It is the most stable wing I’ve ever used. One can be in the harness and fly with the front hand off the handle without worrying about the wing moving around. The front and back handles are balanced, requiring similar strength for both. The harness lines, when attached to the handles, are well balanced. In fact, I can let go of the handles and fly the wing by holding onto the harness line; it’s that balanced.”
“Flagging out the wing was stable. The center handle was nice and stiff but not hard if you fell on it. I didn’t get a chance to ride waves with it, but I did flag it out going into the wind, and the wing was stable. Going into the wind on a tack was similar; the wing wasn’t pushing down like the Duotones tend to. The wing wasn’t pushing up like the 2023 CWC did, which I didn’t like about last year’s CWC.
“Flying overpowered for me in 20 mph winds, I wasn’t fighting the wing, and the canopy wasn’t flapping. The 2022 CWC requires much more energy, and the wing flaps in similar conditions. If one likes to fly overpowered, this would be a great option. In fact, I could have easily been on my 4.5m V4 Strike, but amazingly, I was using the 6m CWC instead with no problem.
A few things I didn’t like: The leash length was perfectly sagging, making it easy to hook into the harness. This is easy enough to fix—don’t attach it to your wrist, attach it to your waist. Also, the main strut was black! So don’t leave it in the hot sun, as it will expand.” (If concerned about sun exposure, we recommend choosing the Mint colorway- see image adjacent!).
Upwind ability was impressive. The Strike V4 has the best upwind ability of any wing I’ve tried so far, but I think this CWC is better. I wasn’t fighting the wing; in fact, it was easy and didn’t take much strength to go upwind. This took me by surprise, as big wings usually seem to require more energy to go upwind. The wing went downwind easily as well, which makes this wing great if one wants to race downwind or upwind. I’m not into racing, but I do like to go downwind and upwind, and this wing makes it easier and increases the fun factor.”
Learn More
• Optimized design for perfect balance in flight and new forward traction
• ALUULA on all three struts for greater lightness, strength, and performance
• HITEX and TECHNOFORCE for increased durability
• Intuitive pumping for easy planing starts
• Equipped with our new interchangeable handle system
• The quintessential light-wind weapon
Offering power, efficient pumping and more direct feedback, these hard handles are connected to the wing’s webbing by a hard base. Ideal for riders seeking control and precision, both handles feature rounded angles, providing an ergonomic grip over the entire handle. The front handle is built to always keep your wrist at a natural angle, and is slightly raised on one side to facilitate all maneuvers. The back handle is closer to the strut for precision and power. These hard handles are built in a light glass fiber oval tube and EVA grip, and also feature EVA bumpers on all angles to protect both rider and gear from shocks.
An F-ONE innovation, these are soft handles that are connected to the wing’s webbing by a hard base. Thanks to this hard base, these hybrid handles do not deform, offer an ergonomic shape, and are easier to grasp during maneuvers and transitions. These hybrid handles hence provide a more direct feel in your hands for more performance and control, while still fully benefiting from the comfort and grip of the soft handles.
