Thanks to Wingfoil Pro Center I had the awesome opportunity to do a prolonged demo of the AFS Silk range this year. It was a great introduction to these foils and I wrote about how the experience of a prolonged demo can unfold here: Gorge Ride Report, 300 miles of wingfoiling on the AFS Silk. Here I am at the end of the summer 2024 and I bought three AFS foils to serve as my own quiver.
My riding style:
I ride in the Columbia River Gorge 150+ days a year. I enjoy wing initiated runs where I hunt for steep wavelike swell that I can session on far from my launch. I then upwind back to my starting point. While I'm out and about I want user friendliness in terms of easy water starts, fast and aggressive carving, and stable/predictable responses from the foil in all water conditions. Before the Silks entered my quiver I really just wanted to surf swell non stop. Now, I do enjoy carving 360s, throwing harder tacks, and playing with a variety of wing maneuvers. These foils sparked a lot of progression for me.
My Daily Kit:
Rider: 86kg
Sunova Carver 5'10"x20" 85l
Occasional rides on Sunova Aviator 6'6"x18" 90l
New: AFS 75cm UHM mast
Ocean Rodeo AA wings
AFS Silk 650 and 1050 w/132 tail
The gear I bought:
Silk 1050 with 132 tail
1050cm^2
8 Aspect Ratio
17.9mm thick
916mm span
150mm chord
1221g
Silk 650 with 132 tail
650cm^2
8 Aspect Ratio
13.7mm thick
720mm span
115mm chord
959g
75cm UHM Mast
100mm chord
12.8mm thick
1625g
Ultra 750 with HA 38 tail
750cm^2
14 Aspect Ratio
12.3mm thick
1024mm span
95mm chord
1388g
First Impression:
The Silks are shockingly light, ridiculously stiff, beautifully made, and I fell hopelessly in love with each size after a few sessions. My first day or two on each took a bit of sorting to decide on stabs, pump, takeoff, but after that, I was set.
The packaging is top notch, the best I've seen from a manufacturer:
Why I bought the 1050
Wind and swell range:
I need a 13 knot average wind speed with a 4m on this foil. The 1050 is wildly fun in light winds, flat water, and small swell. It has all the stall speed I need in smaller conditions to still enjoy my session.
At 20 knots I can pull out the 3m or even 2.5m if I'm patient and have a blast riding medium sized low power swell. The 132 tail makes the 1050, specifically, feel wildly loose. I tested almost every surf foil on the market this year and IMO the feel of this combo is unique. I consider it unbeatable in small to medium swell and flat water riding.
At 30 knots I can ride a 2m with this foil and still have tons of fun in the flatter sections of the river. However, when in faster moving swell from 30-40 knots the 1050 is in lounge mode and best for downwinding as it becomes a bit harder to keep up with the swell if you are surfing aggressively.
A pretty day testing the 1050 at Rowena on the Carver.
What I like the most:
Insane wind range for having fun. 13-30 is not a normal wind range for the foils I've owned in the past.
When paired with the 132 tail I'm convinced this is the loosest feeling foil I've ever ridden while at the same time having unmatched control and drive through hard carving maneuvers.
This is my go to foil for learning new tricks. It seems like I learn something new every day on this foil and then integrating the new tricks into swell is a breeze.
Who it's for:
Arguably anyone. This is my favorite foil for 13-25 knots of wind and my top choice for weak to medium energy steep faced swell.
IMO this is one of the few foils in the world that can be a "lifetime" beginner to advanced foil if you have a quiver of tails to go with it.
Tail choice:
With the 132 tail it's crazy loose. It's my favorite and the only one I ride with the 1050 but some might say it's too loose.
142 is perfect for the all around rider who is developing.
152 is great if you are new to the world of loose/carving foils and still working on some of the basics. A buddy of mine who was trying to get his first gybes demo'd the 1050/152 combo and was nailing gybes and riding swell by the end of the day!
I tested it with the ha38 tail and this calms the foil down a good bit over the 132. This made it very friendly and stable for learning new maneuvers while keeping its speed up.
My favorite tail on all of the Silk foils:
Mast Choice:
I tested this with three masts. The 80cm UHM, 75cm UHM and a 80cm Universal mast.
I preferred the AFS 75cm UHM mast because it it gives a nice maneuverability boost to the 1050 while also maintaining the required stiffness for tip breaches and turbulent water.
The AFS 80cm UHM mast has outstanding stiffness for unparalleled stability in all situations but it can't match the short chord benefits of the AFS 75cm UHM.
The 80cm universal mast had great maneuverability and speed but the comparably lower stiffness resulted in instability on tip breaches and in turbulent water.
The 80cm UHM mast. The stiffest mast I've ridden.
Board Choice:
Due to my style of riding and the way this foil performs I had a preference for my 20" Carver in all setups with this foil.
My 18" Aviator felt a bit out of balance. It could be something about the 3/4" thicker deck that left me feeling a bit disconnected from the foil.
500 mile update:
Despite the Ultra and Enduro foils showing up in my life the 1050 continues to be a favorite in my quiver. I always have fun on this foil and don't see it getting retired anytime soon!
1000 mile update:
a work in progress...
Why I bought the 650
Wind and swell range:
A 19 knot average windspeed with a 4m is the best I recorded but I really don't consider this foil until it's 20 knots if I'm riding flatwater. It's worth noting that I was intimidated to try the 650 because of the takeoff stepdown from the 1050 to 850. However, after several hundred miles on the 850 and 650 I have found I only need 1-2 extra knots of wind to get the 650 up and running. This foils speed is fun in the flats and if you are looking to zip around doing flatwater freestyle this is a great choice.
At 25 knots I reach for the 3m and head to the swell. Typically it isn't very big and pushy at this speed, so the riding is pretty technical and not as carefree as on the 850. However, after 6 sessions in medium swell on this foil I'm getting quite dialed in with the pump and the speed/glide is allowing me to stay flagged out linking swell for over a mile at a time. This foil is perfect for pushy days in medium strong winds at the Hatch, Rufus, Dougs, and Arlington.
I've only had one session so far on the 650 in winds over 30 knots. The average was 37 and I used my 2m strike. One of the most exciting things I noticed about that session relates to how fast and slippery the 650 is. When matched with the 2m Strike v3 there's essentially zero load transferred to my body. So, I can ride for prolonged periods without hooking into my harness, even in extreme winds.
What I like most:
The 650 has a long vs short fuse position. The short loosens it up nicely when flagged out in gorge swell which increases the functional range of this foil. In the long position it has straightline speed vibes.
The fun range being 20 knot flat water to an unknown high end of over 40 knots makes decision making on the beach easier.
The efficiency of this foil transfers a lot less fatigue through my body allowing for longer sessions that makes the handling of larger wings easier on me.
I have set all of my top speed (about 3mph faster than anything else) and multiple average speed records on this foil.
I am yet to master this, but in the short fuse position I have had a few shockingly sharp and snappy tacks that caught me off guard. I'm trying to figure out how to get access to those full time.
I feel like this foil gets looser with speed which I love. It's ready to carve any line imaginable when the conditions are pumping.
Noteworthy points:
This foil wants to be ridden fast and hard. For me, it preferred to be slung into a glide at 18-19mph and would stay there for long periods of time, even in small swell.
Who it's for:
This is a foil for advanced riders who want speed, glide, powerful carving and roll on demand for drawing technical lines on big fast moving swell faces.
My kit the day I set my speed record. Silk 650, skinny 75cm mast and my Aviator:
Tail choice:
I have only ridden this foil with the 132 tail. I prefer it in the short position as it boosts maneuverability in small/weak swell which is common in the gorge.
Mast choice:
I tested this with three masts. The 80cm UHM, 75cm UHM and an 80cm Universal mast.
The AFS 75cm UHM mast is my top choice and an outrageous upgrade for this foil. It provided a dramatic glide and top speed increase. My first session on this skinny mast set my top speed record and I experienced prolonged glide at high speeds on the 650 that set this mast apart from all others.
The AFS 80cm UHM mast has outstanding stiffness for unparalleled stability in all situations but it does slow the 650 down if you are in small/weak swell.
The 80cm universal mast had good maneuverability and speed that served this foil well.
Board choice:
In the flats or smaller swell this foil likes to be muscled around vs the crazy loose 1050. As such, my 20" Carver has been the perfect match for this foil and is my first choice.
My 18" Aviator was not the right match for me with this foil. It does have phenomenal speed on the water which makes for easier takeoffs on the 650. However, I never felt comfortable with this combo since I couldn't quite get the leverage over the 650 that I wanted in small conditions to really crank my style of turns.
500 mile update:
a work in progress...
1000 mile update:
a work in progress...
What about the 850!?
Wind and swell range:
I need an 18 knot average wind with a 4m on this foil. I would typically reach for a different foil if the 850 is at its low end since I really only want to ride this foil in well powered swell.
At 23 knots this foil is good to go for me with a 3m. 25-30 knots with medium to large swell is the sweet spot for this foil. I had one of, if not the best, ride of my life on a 30 knot day with this foil.
At 33 knots I can pull out the 2m with this foil. My 2m is a Strike v3 which doesn't have the most reliable low end and it does give me pause with the 850 when I get far from home on the river.
Noteworthy points:
I accidentally set my high wind record on the 850 with 2m. Gauges showed 62 knots at the end of my session and this was the kit I was on. The 850 was capable, but not thriving in those conditions. It was barely able to keep up with the swell, but the fact that it was manageable at all in those winds is impressive.
When I think of my best foiling experiences, the 850 is the first to come to mind. Full speed carving turns without any hesitation in 30 knots. I can completely trust this foil to do exactly what I imagine.
Who it's for:
Riders looking for a user friendly high performance surfer as a daily driver. Some would argue that this is a good one foil quiver for the intermediate to advanced rider.
Why didn't I add this to my quiver!?:
This foil is phenomenal in its ideal conditions. Medium+ powered swell with steep wave faces and 30 knots is a dream come true. We get plenty of those days in the gorge so this would be a valuable addition. However, I absolutely had to have the 1050, there was no way around it. That foil is magic with how loose it rides and how challenging or friendly you can make it. The 650 picks up right when you really need to put the 1050 down and has a TON more speed. Plus, it requires more technical riding of me which will make me a better foiler. So, I just see more range and technical progression available to me on the 1050 and 650. Based on my current skillset, the 850 feels like a high performance machine that I will allow me to show off everything I can do, but wont push my current skills to a new level. As such, I chose the progression challenge of the 650 over the performance opportunity of the 850.
75cm UHM Mast
The thinner chord is obvious when side by side. The AFS UHM carbon stiffness and construction quality make this mast my favorite.
I've become a big believer in masts this year and getting to test a set of foils extensively on three different masts taught me a ton about how all these foils are impacted when you swap masts around. I chose the 75cm AFS UHM for myself because it is the lightest, with the shortest chord, thinnest profile, and has no noticeable drawbacks in any situation when paired with my Silks. I wish I could tell you there was a silver bullet or easy comment about how different masts will impact your foil but it's a bit more nuanced. I felt like each foil is impacted slightly differently and here's what I learned:
Stiffness:
For me this is the king of all traits. If you are only going to have one mast it needs to be stiff enough for all your foils. If you plan to quiver masts, then you can have different mast stiffnesses for different foils that aren't as demanding on the mast.
Ranked:
80cm AFS UHM
75cm AFS UHM
80cm Universal
Maneuverability:
The shorter the chord is the more maneuverable these foils can become. Snappier on the wave and tighter carving are the result of the shorter chord.
Ranked:
75cm AFS UHM
80cm Universal
80cm AFS UHM
Speed and glide:
It's hard to place a correct amount of value on speed and glide. This is something that you can overcome with the wing or in the right type of swell. However, the ease of which your speed and glide allows you to link waves and swell can have a significant impact on the flow state and overall experience on the water. A shorter chord and thinner profile produce faster speeds and glide.
Ranked:
75cm AFS UHM
80cm Universal
80cm AFS UHM
How it impacts each individual foil:
Silk 650
The biggest impact I noticed on the 650 was the increased speed and glide of the 75cm UHM. This is a foil that really wants to go fast and is best when it's moving at high speeds. This mast upgrade resulted in immediate top speed records but most excitingly I kept looking down at my speed and seeing 18-19mph while flagged out in small swell. For reference, my Ultra has been flagging out at 14-15mph and my 1050 flags out at 12mph.
Masts choice ranked with Silk 650:
75cm AFS UHM
80cm Universal
80cm AFS UHM
Silk 1050
The biggest impact I noticed on the 1050 was the carving bonus. The 1050 isn't really built for speed so the speed/glide increase is harder to bring to realization. In fact, my top speed on the 1050 came with the 142 tail and the 80cm AFS UHM mast. However, as the widest and most forgiving of the Silks this foil has been a dream to ride in small swell and for flat water tricks. Since I ride the 1050 with the 132 tail I was a bit worried this mast would push this foil to a place of being too loose. Fortunately that was not the case. This kit actually feels more balanced with the 132 and 75cm skinny combo. Almost as if it was out of harmony on the deeper chorded masts and more composed with the new mast. The drive and carving radius benefits with the 75cm UHM is a joy and most days this is my favorite kit to ride.
Masts choice ranked with Silk 1050:
75cm AFS UHM
80cm AFS UHM
80cm Universal
500 mile update:
a work in progress...
1000 mile update:
a work in progress...
General Commentary
Carving vs Turning:
There is one extremely special trait that the Silks have that I don't feel on other foils. All foils turn. Some turn well. Others don't. The Silks carve and deliver the feeling of drive through their turns in a way that is unlike anything else. The Silks are as stable as I need at speed and they have no resistance to entering a carve and no natural desire to flatten back out of a carve. There's a moment when I'm deep into a turn and I feel the drive kick in. A a subtle push that edges me into a carve harder and faster than anything else I've ever felt. This is my number one favorite trait with all of the Silks.
Favorites:
At the moment, the Silks are my favorite foils. They do everything I want them to do and allow me to surf swell in the Gorge the way I envision surfing it. They give me the confidence to try new things, they are forgiving in all conditions, their build quality is unmatched, and I'm excited no matter what foil I'm rigging up for the day.
Customer Service:
I experienced one gear issued with the kits I bought from AFS. I made one phone call and it was handled. As a customer, they trusted my evaluation of the issue and made it right immediately. I already love the foils and the immaculate customer service makes me feel like a valued customer.
Additional questions and interest in buying?
I bought mine through Gwen at Wingfoil Pro Center. He is a wealth of knowledge because he is out riding this gear every day. I highly recommend giving him a call if you have questions.
You can also contact me with a message on a variety of social media sites or simply comment on the article!
Upcoming:
I bought the Ultra 750! I demo'd the Enduro 700! Expect a review on the Ultra and some additional commentary on the Enduro down the line.
Thank you!
I hope you found this review helpful and informative. If there was anything I missed or could have added, please don't hesitate to ask.
See you at the river,
Bryan Lee, M.S. Experiential Education.
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