Naish Glider HA 1800

Naish has an all-new Glider HA pump foil designed for flat water foiling, dock starts, or light wind downwinding. Available in a 1400 or 1800 sq cm front wing, this foil has a very large wingspan paired with a higher aspect ratio to excel in lower energy conditions where lift and glide are favored over speed and turning.

To support the massive 51.2-inch span of the 1800 Glider HA, Naish has developed a new “Hammer Head” front wing fuselage connection that utilizes a series of five M6 bolts and a wider connection base to reduce the flex and support the increase toque. While this connection does have more bolts than most foils on the market, the connection is tight, secure, and sufficiently handles the lateral load generated by the larger 1800 front wing. The front wing leverages both unidirectional carbon and 3k twill weave carbon fiber to create a stiff yet light composite.

Additionally, Naish has a new foil mast in a high-modulus carbon that retains the stiffness and support needed for the larger pump foils, with a profile and section that will hang with the high-performance equipment. A consistent tapered trailing edge creates a predictable and controllable feel that has balance between high-speed riding and control. The baseplate has both slotted and thru-hole options for mounting, both utilizing M6 hardware. The fuselage connection is an indexed connection with two M8 bolts.

The Glider HA 1800 foil was paired with the 250 tail and 85 Carbon HM mast. Testing was primarily in pump conditions, and flat-water SUP paddling

For dock starting and pump foiling disciplines, the span of the 1800 Glider HA makes the initial take off very easy, and the increased surface area allows the rider a little extra time to establish their position on the board before needing to engage the pumping. The wide span creates a very stable platform and prevents the foil from rolling over on take-off.

Flat water SUP foilers will enjoy the low take off speed and stability that allows the rider to quickly and easily get the board off the water without being too fatigued to continue the pump. Similar to the dock start, the wide span reduces the roll of the foiling making the low-speed engagement and take off very predictable and easy to control for riders of all skill levels.

Once the Glider HA is moving, the pump becomes almost effortless when you find the right efficiency window and mast elevation. The foil provides very defined rider feedback when it is at the ideal speed and position in the water column, and once that range is felt it is very easy to maintain without excessive physical exertion. An 85cm mast was provided for testing, which for pump foiling and flatwater SUP foiling is on the longer end. Riders looking to optimize their setup around these disciplines will unlock better low-end performance and control with the 75 High Modulus mast.

As is expected with any foil with this type of design and span, turning is sacrificed in favor of straight-line efficiency and low speed pumping, however that does not mean this foil won’t turn. The Glider HA 1800 felt great in long, large radius pumping turns, and it was easy to do circles or return to your starting point. There is a noticeable decrease in efficiency at steeper bank angles, but that also provides another layer of exploration within the discipline. Experienced riders may also find additional performance at the tradeoff of stability by trying smaller tails or doing a DIY chop-shop on the stock 250 tail.

Overall, the Glider HA 1800 paired with the High Modulus foil mast is an ideal platform for flat water pumpers, or foilers that have extremely light conditions for downwind foiling. With an easy to ride front wing, and versatile configuration, the Glider HA series of foils has room to grow with any rider as they progress through their foiling journey.