2023 North Nova Light Wind Wing

I’m loving the 7.0 Nova! It does all that I was expecting and more. It pulls you right up as it fills and the wing tips stay out of the water with little effort. The handles are comfy and well placed adding to the great balance of the wing. It’s light for its size too. It points upwind better than i expected and handles wind above its rating. I am 5’10” 165 lbs. This wing is what I have been needing!

I rode the 8m Lightwind back to back against 7m Mode when Bryja was on campus testing. Quite interesting, key takeaway was I get up on file with minimal pumping with 8m LW where I ned to (always) pump Mode, but Mode goes through lulls better more top end speed, better upwind, etc. Quite interesting.

No one likes to get skunked on breeze and the North LW will help keep you going. I tested all sizes. I would probably buy the 7m at 170 lbs rider. I was really surprised at how well the 8m worked. It has much more compact wing tips than any other wing this size. I found the center strut was pretty long and caught that on a few turns.

This wing has a lot of canopy so when you start to pump it, you get this big pocket of power in the middle of the wing that generates power and pumps you up on foil. Once on foil it actually rides really fast. Fast enough that you don't realize how light it is until you stop and try to get going again.

I really like the hard bars on this wing. North did a great job with placement and length of theirs. With a wing this big you need to move your hands down toward the trailing edge to start then forward and up toward the leading edge when you get going. Also the hard bar gives you more direct feedback to the wing and pump to get going.

Light wind sucks, but at least there are good wings that will get you on the water when the conditions are bad.

'- I actually really like it. I have been out on a few 10 ish days. The wing has a crazy amount of grunt to pull you on foil. Just head downwind, and give one slow big pump(more like a pull) and you are up in a little gust - like freakishly fast and easy.
- Once up, it is surprisingly comfortable and nice to fly - I can stay on foil through most lulls as long as I don't crash.
- The wing is so deep it can be a challenge to flip over - I almost need a longer leash to clear the LE
- I love the hard handles - wondering if I would like them on my smaller wings.
- Unfortunately, it doesn't solve the fact that 10ish knots can be a bit boring and a lot of pumping through the lulls work and then sitting and waiting for a gust... Kind of feels like you are just out balancing on a foil. But hey - I am out on the water so no complaints.