Tkb Review: 2021 F-One Gravity 1800 FCT

Sizes Available: 1800, 2200cm2
Sizes Tested: 1800cm2

F-One Says:

A Gravity foil is an intuitive foil to use. It generates lift at low (and even very low) speed but does it in a smooth way so you can keep your balance easily. The wings are designed to be easy to roll and turn, so they can perform in the surf.

The Gravity has its dimensions optimized to provide enough lift to get anyone flying. We made sure to keep the drag limited to maintain a thrilling feeling of glide. The span is generous making it a very stable foil and the refined shape details such as the arch curvature, the profile and the wing tips insure it remains highly maneuverable.

The FCT technology offers a wing that is covered using a thin but strong protective layer to protect it from scratches and digs. It is built in fiberglass around an injected foam core and fits on a streamlined, aluminum fuselage. The two connect via a large, solid plate at the front of the fuselage ensuring a very solid and stiff bond between the wing and the fuselage. The fuselage can be connected to the standard F-ONE aluminium mast of the desired length. The setup and disassembly are also super easy and the whole is very travel friendly.

The Gravity comes with the IC6 300 Stab. This stabilizer offers easy take-off and good directional stability for a secure feel which is perfect when riding. Built using the IC6 technology it is both strong and durable

Visit for more info: www.f-one.world/product/gravity-1800-fct/

TKB Says:

The F-One Gravity 1800 FCT (Foil Compression Technology) is a great entry-level wingsurfing option that gives progression-oriented riders a nice, slow and stable platform in a package that is reasonably priced. If you’re hooked on the durability and price-point of FCT technology, you can get this construction in smaller wing sizes if you hop over to the Phantom FCT line of front wings for the 1280 and 1480cm2 sizes.

Design and Features
The 1800 FCT features a new 4-point mounting system for the front wing mated to the IC6 300 stabilizer with its vertical winglets for extra stability and the 75cm aluminum mast/74surf fuselage. The FCT construction is a hybrid carbon that gives you a ton of durability with reasonable weight. While you can get this same setup in a lighter full carbon option, you won’t get the same durability and affordable price point. The front wing features a super-wide wingspan that gives you stability with a fairly deep profile that generates early and predictable lift at lower speeds. The aluminum fuselage and mast give you a ton of durability for those first sessions when you’re doing walks of shames and bonking into cars walking through the parking lot.

Impressions
We found this to be an excellent beginner entry-level setup for learning to wingsurf. The Gravity gives you tons of early lift at really slow startup speeds and allows you to hook into early lift without the need for higher speeds. We were really impressed with how quickly we could start to get lift even in the lulls with just a couple of pumps to the inflatable wing. You don’t need as good wing/power control because this hydrofoil is such a stable low-speed lift generator that it begins to come up and float you really early. The foil up felt super predictable without that awkward high angle of lift that some foils have when they first start flying. The slower threshold speed also proves helpful while dialing in harder moves, allowing slower speeds and carrying you through until you can get power back in the inflatable wing.

The 1800 felt reasonably active on the pitch axis for up and down adjustments while the yaw and the roll felt comparatively more stable. The yaw or directionality is really stable and we expected this because the IC6300 stabilizer has those vertical winglets and the roll axis is extra stable because of the extra length of the wingspan. These aspects make the 1800 super reliable and intuitive because it requires a bit more input to initiate turns.

The 1800 is the setup we would encourage our friends to try out for learning. Firstly, because it gets you in the game for a fairly low price point but also because it offers durable and bulletproof materials that can withstand the typical mistakes in the early stages of learning. After dialing in your basic skills, the 1800 continues to be fun in lower wind situations and will probably be a great companion for road trips where you might end up at a mountain lake or somewhere similar with threshold conditions. The F-One 2021 lineup has a ton of more high-performance foil options, but the 1800 is the surefire way to set yourself up for the fastest progression and the greatest amount of fun.