Inbound: CORE Halo Pro LW

CORE recently released their lightwind chief, the Halo Pro LW. They haven’t held back on top tech materials either, with some of the big guns in contemporary fabrics featured in its ingredients. We went knocking at CORE HQ for some more info…

Hey team. So what kind of light wind speeds are we talking to be able to get a session in on the Halo Pro LW?

A gentle breeze is enough. Average wingfoilers can easily get going with the Halo Pro LW at 10 knots. Plus, you get on your foil much more effortlessly because the wing generates so much power. Which by the way allows you to ride smaller boards (let’s say body weight 10-15kg) compensating for a two board quiver. More experienced wingers with a perfectly matched board and foil can comfortably wing from 6-7 knots. 

Talk to us about the refinements in the LW that optimize this wing for that purpose…

Designing a big wing isn’t the big challenge, but keeping the canopy in shape without drag from flutter is. To achieve that and the targeted performance we added two struts in the tip area that allowed the profile to be extended from the middle area to the tips. Thanks to its comparatively small span and large projected area, the Halo Pro in eight square meters is still amazingly easy to maneuver. 

When designing a wing with an ultra stiff Aluula airframe, are there any comfort factors you need to design into the wing to avoid too punchy a feel through the handles?

No, not really. The large span absorbs gusts more sufficiently and transmits them in height and propulsion. Plus, you normally ride the 8-meter Halo Pro in conditions with less aggressive gusts than with your smaller wings.

We’re a year or two into the widespread adoption of Aluula as a lightweight material option now. Do you think light wind wings such as this one would be a viable option without a material that’s as light as Aluula?

We have been testing several light wind prototypes also with other materials such as our ExoTex 2 Dacron, and yes it works. But you would never achieve the nice handling and good agility at this size to make it a fun wing as we now have with the Aluula airframe.  

Where did you do the majority of the testing and R&D, which of the team were involved?

With the final testing taking place in spring and early summer we had all the options even right on our doorstep here in Fehmarn. But we also had test teams in Rhodes, Greece and on the lakes of Austria. 

Canopy material is always a big consideration with a light wind product, how did you come to choose the CoreTex 2…

CoreTex 2 which we already used for the XC and Halo Pro still delivers best results when you look at all key parameters such as low stretch, weight and durability. You will find canopies that exceed in one dimension but not in all three of these key aspects. To achieve the highest performance for the Halo Pro LW we reduced the elongation in the profile to a minimum, especially during peak loads through aligning it in the optimal running direction.

Talk to us about the Boom option on the LW. This one is slightly longer, is that right?

Yes, correct. The longer boom makes a big difference and contributes perfectly to the riding conditions: It allows for a wider range of angles of attack, crucial in light winds. It also provides a bigger depower range to help riders hold onto the wing longer.

Anything else cooking in the CORE kitchen right now that we should know about?

We are constantly observing the sports evolution very attentively and don't stand still! Without revealing what’s coming we are definitely looking forward to a few exciting additions to the range this year that will make the existing range more versatile and suitable in some disciplines.