Matt got me on the 4’8” (54L) and recommended I give it a go as a step down from my 4’11” (60L) Armstrong.
The Ginxu certainly takes some adjustment to get used to it with the forward volume and I’d suggest that you take your first session in flat water (not critical waves like I did.)
First off, with an Armstrong foil – I had to get the foil all the way forward in the boxes by flipping the bolts to the back hole (a+ system) on the front two mast bolts. As for technique, you must get forward when you are getting going but once the board has forward momentum, it’s stable and gets up on foil quickly.
The step bottom takes some getting used to as well. Your foil is riding higher in the water column, which gives added performance but your height awareness after being on a regular board is the same, so I breached a few times in the beginning.
I felt the board got on foil quickly and recovered quickly. It carved incredibly with a stable arc and minimum rail grab when buried in a hard turn.
The foot straps are nice and comfortable when riding but not so comfy when laying on them to paddle out…
Overall, this is a great board with a high performance feel and would be great for all riders with the huge variety of sizes offered.
I’m an intermediate winger – been doing it for three years and only want to ride in the ocean on waves with the wing trailing like a damn cape while I rip turns. I’m 5’8” and 165lbs.
The Ginxu is a super fun board to ride. Really stable and controlled when on foil. My first few sessions I was riding this board too big an it felt corky and weird with all the volume up front. I recently dropped down in volume and had a lot more success.
This board takes off really quick off the water with the big stepped tail. The flatter deck gives you stability while riding. It is quick rail to rail and the weight in the nose gives you a lot of control through turns. This board likes to be ridden off the tail like a surfboard.
I was riding the Armstrong MA1225 with 235 tail and blue shim and it likes to be all the way forward in the tracks. The stock foot straps are the best adjustable windsurf strap that I have used. Very plush and comfortable.
Overall I'm really stoked on the Ginxu and will recommend it for riders that are looking to drop down in volume. So if you are riding 120L, then go of the 105L. You will be stoked with the performance upgrade and easy take off.
Well I was nervous with my body placement on the shorter board and that negative volume with less 105 vs 115 ltrs placement aft where the step is BUT in a half hour I got it worked out and this board takes off and up on foil just as quick OR faster than the 115 Wingdrifter 2023 wind was 13 17 kts with 1850@235 5m wing just so much fun on more compact shape at 185 lbs and 5 m hooded suit I’m close to 200 lbs.
couldn’t be happier waited over a year before I got one of these beauties so STOKED dawn patrol tomorrow love everthing about it to most they seem pretty radical and it’s just a gimmick the step tail but it’s 100% real deal makes everthing easier up here on the Great Lakes is real world variable shifting wind and it WORKS so if works here it will work anywhere. I’m a old f’er so what makes it easier is better when you said in first review if you got grey hair stick with the Wingdrifter and I said o fuck I guess I will never ride that if Matt says that but 👍 not so just pick the right size and go for it!
I was hesitant at first thinking that these Pro design might be too radical for my intermediate skills, but as soon as I adjusted my starting positioning to compensate for the volume difference, the rewards were even bigger than I anticipated. Im starting to think of a smaller sibling now. This board and sport are so much fun! Thank you Real team for carrying this great product. 🙏🏼