Flying Fish Board Co Unveils the NEW “Fly-By” Foil Board and a Full Review with Gwen Le Tutour

Today we had the pleasure to sit down with renowned foiling athlete Gwen Tutour to discuss his impressions of the BRAND NEW Flying Fish Fly-By Foil Board. From the moment he unboxed this striking piece of equipment, Gwen was captivated by its sleek design and astonishing lightweight construction, weighing in at just 11 lbs for an 8’4 board. As he reflects on his experience assembling the board and taking it for her first ride, Gwen highlights the exceptional balance and speed that set the Flying Fish apart from traditional boards. Throughout our conversation, we delve into his insights on its performance in varying water conditions, maneuverability, and stability for both beginners and seasoned riders. Gwen shares his expert feedback on the board’s design, offers essential tips for newcomers, and ultimately reveals why he wholeheartedly recommends the Flying Fish Fly-By Foil Board to fellow foiling enthusiasts.

Hello Gwen, and welcome to TotalSUP today! What were your first impressions when you unboxed the Flying Fish Fly-By Board?

When I first saw the board, I was super excited, visually it’s one of the best looking downwinding boards I have ever seen. A huge dilemma I have is that I just want to hang it in my house, but my wife said “no way” so I figured I would just ride it haha! Another thing you can notice right away is how light it is, 11 lbs for an 8’4 board. That’s crazy light!     

We’re very happy the board isn’t just hanging on your wall too! How easy was it to assemble and set up the board before your first use?

The board is eagerly prepared and ready to go; mount your foil securely on it, fasten your leash properly, and get excited because it’s time to head out and play in the water!

Amazing! Can you describe the feeling of riding the Fly-By compared to traditional boards you’ve used?

First, the board is really fast, making the paddle up even with a small foil seem so easy. Second, once you are up on foil, the board is so light and well balanced, it feels like you are riding a 7′ board, not an 8’4. I was actually surprised by the stability for how narrow mine is, 16.5″ wide. Fast, stable and maneuverable, those are attributes you usually can’t get all together in one board.

That is incredible! What specific features of the Fly-By stood out to you during your testing?

The main feature that stands out to me is how light the board is, you can’t get that in a traditional DW board. The only way to get a similar weight is to go to one of those new hollow constructions, but the price for the hollow construction is a lot higher. The Flying Fish DW board is the same price as a regular production board.

So the board is lighter, and cost effective! That’s great to hear! How did the performance of the board differ in various water conditions, such as choppy versus calm waters?

In calm water for flat water paddle up practice, any board feels stable, the true test is when you add chop, current, ground swell, etc… The shape of the board, a wider deck section tapering into a narrower flat bottom allows it to be fast and narrow, yet stable. The only downside of a flat bottom can be a bit more drag during a small touch down, but it is not a deal breaker at all and the upside out weighs the downside.

That makes sense with a flat bottom for the board. Did you encounter any challenges or difficulties while learning to maneuver the board?

Even though I would qualify this board more as a DW race board, meant to paddle up the smallest foil and go from point A to B in the shortest time possible, I was surprised by the maneuverability of the board. The fact that it is so light and balanced makes it that you don’t feel any swing weight, so the board is incredibly responsive when pumping and carving.

We love to hear that the board is super responsive when you pump and carve it! All of the fun stuff! How would you rate the stability of the Fly-By for beginners versus experienced riders?

The shape, as I explained earlier in our discussion, is specifically designed to provide you with the best stability possible. This means that it is particularly great for beginners who are just getting the hang of things, but it also allows more experienced riders to opt for a narrower design, enabling them to gain greater efficiency as they glide through the water and enhance their overall performance.

That is great that the Fly-By is suited for riders of all levels! What feedback would you provide on the design and construction quality of the board?

The build quality is top notch, super stiff, light, and durable. DW boards are so awkward to carry, it usually doesn’t take long to get a ding between cramming 10 boards with foils in a van for the upwind shuttle, or walking down to the water on slippery rocks… haha! But so far, mine is still looking perfect, which is good because I’m still working on the idea of hanging it in my house!

What tips would you give to someone who is considering trying out the Fly-By for the first time?

A lot of people want to downsize the volume of their board as they progress, but if you get a Flying Fish board, you don’t have to risk going to a lower volume to gain responsiveness. You can pretty much keep a similar volume if you need, and the board will feel smaller when on foil. So you get a board that can be easy to balance on, easy to paddle up, yet super fun and responsive.

Overall, how satisfied are you with your experience on the Fly-By Foil Board, and would you recommend it to others?

I would 100% recommend Flying Fish to anyone, I really appreciate the fact that the board is made in the US, by a team that truly cares and pays attention to details, and the fact that the board is made for you, to the dimensions you need, you literally can’t go wrong, this is the board for you!

Thank you for joining us today on TotalSUP Gwen, and we hope you continue to enjoy the Fly-By for many more foiling adventures!

Watch Gwen’s Full Fly-By Review on YouTube Here

To find out more about Flying Fish visit www.flyingfishboardco.com

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