INBOUND: Armstrong Midlength FG

Off the back of this interview, had we not addressed it with a question, those not already in the know might have assumed FG stands for “Fun Guaranteed”. Which it doesn’t, but by all accounts, the new Midlength has a lot of fun baked in… Armstrong’s Marketing Manager Kjell van Sice took us through it.

This board is built as a real all-rounder, right? What disciplines are its biggest strengths?

Indeed, the Midlength does like mixing it up. The concept is to have a shape where the ratio of length (glide and displacement) to width (stability) allows it to easily switch between winging and prone surf foiling. Its greatest strength lies not necessarily in the number of foiling disciplines it caters to, but rather how it goes about doing it. You get really incredible glide for a given volume out of the Midlength, which means you can ride a lower volume board, which means it’s more responsive and maneuverable, which all equals more fun. Less slogging, more ripping. If you want to see a great example of the Midlength’s versatility, watch The Home of Armstrong Tour on YouTube. You won’t regret it.

For those who haven’t yet come across it, explain away the FG in the name…

FG stands for Forward Geometry. It’s a concept Armstrong introduced in 2021, and it boils down to having the foil tracks generally further forward in the board than average. The idea with FG is that the further forward your foil is on the board, the more maneuverable the whole setup becomes. This has really proven itself with downwind boards, where having the mast centrally placed between the rider’s feet gives you the benefit of a long and fast board, but great maneuverability once on foil thanks to minimizing nose out the front. In the case of the Midlength, think of it as a mini downwind board. Different scale, same benefit by having the tracks further forward.

There are some intricate little details in the construction on this puppy, fill us in on the nitty gritty?

Like all Armstrong boards, the Midlength is built around an ultra-stiff double skin carbon PVC sandwich. This combines with the i-beam top to bottom dual stringers for maximum structural rigidity and durability. Our proprietary carbon fiber foil tracks are keyed directly into the stringer fibers for a fully integrated build. The Midlength also sports footstrap inserts if you’re inclined to ride strapped.

How did you decide on the correct ratio of length to width, and why have you topped out the range at 85l?

Excellent glide was a primary goal with the Midlength, so it was always going to be skinnier and more stretched out than a traditional wing or surf shape. That said, the nose, tail, rails, and bottom contours all play massively into why the Midlength is both fast and actually quite stable. Regarding the size range, we first released 45, 55, 65, 75, and 85L versions as they are core to winging and the 45/55L is mega in either micro or XL prone surf foiling conditions. Coming very soon (maybe by the time you’re reading this!) will be 38L and 100L offerings as well, so keep an eye out for those.

What sort of rider do you see getting the most out of the Midlength?

What the Midlength brings to the table definitely appeals to a lot of riders across a massive weight range. Of course, wingers will love the amazing glide in lighter conditions, skinny hips (fun when leaned way over) and all around rippability. Prone surf foilers can take-off in a totally new part of the wave – way out in the flats or much earlier as the wave is still forming – and have a blast ripping and pumping once they’re up vs being stuck on a giant board. Those who do both disciplines may have just landed on a one-board quiver. The 85L and upcoming 100L can even be a playful downwind board if you’re a strong paddler.

Personally, I’m that one board quiver guy. At 160lbs/72kg, I use my 55L Midlength in light and strong winds, prone surf, and even prone downwind when the conditions suit. Feels amazing under my feet and it absolutely rips with the HA680 foil. Can’t get enough of it.

You’ve got some seriously reputable names in the Armstrong pro team. What have they been saying about the Midlength?

We’re grateful to have a solid team! It’s fun to see how each of them in different locations use this board; Naumi out in the surf or prone downwinding, Reo surf wingfoiling, James strapped winging, etc. Regardless of application, the unanimous vibe is that the Midlength is just plain fun. What could be better?