NSP Airwave 1700 review by Wingsurfer Journal

About Wingsurfer Journal
This NSP Airwave 1700 review was written by Wingsurfer Journal, France. With the French being one of the main markets in water sports, WingSurfer Journal is a publication reporting on gear, destinations and riders for the French-speaking market.

The magazine spawned from Windsurf Journal (related to SUP Journal), a publication that closely works together with distributors to get their hands on the latest gear for reviews.

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What we say about the Airwave 1700

“The Airwave 1700 set mixes high-performance pre-preg carbon with precision milled anodized aluminum. The wings,  mast and fuselage designs have evolved over several iterations, combining stability, durability, price and performance.”

“The Airwave 1700 set is perfect in small- to medium-sized waves, and will accommodate heavier riders as well as make a great platform for wing foiling. Designed for surf, SUP and wing foiling the NSP Airwave can be tuned additionally with the three included shims.”

“With low-speed take-off and excellent rider feedback, the NSP Airwave lifts early. The FW 1700 benefits from a higher surface compared to 1325, making it perfect for heavier riders struggling to get on foil. The efficient wing design in combination with an incredibly stiff fuselage built from marine-grade aluminum allows for an extra amount of control and stability, making the Airwave 1700 set perfect for a wide variety of foiling.”

“The surface of 1700 cm² in combination with the 330 cm² back wing leverages your pumping action while creating appropriate lift and stability at very low speeds, making this the ideal setup for small waves and swell that doesn’t have that lift you see from bigger waves.”

“Precision manufacturing means 100% alignment of the wings and heavy-duty construction. The NSP Airwave is ideal for both entry-level and advanced foilers.”

In detail

Mast: Aluminum, 68.5cm + 3.5cm fuselage, 13.5cm wide at 5cm from the top, 13.5cm wide at 5cm from the bottom
Fuselage: Aluminum, 70 cm (78 with wings), 27.5 cm mast distance at the start of the wing
Rear wing: Carbon, 330 cm², 39 cm x 11 cm, 2 screws with Torx head diameter 6
Adjustable stabilizer: Yes, with 1-3 degree shims, different colors
Front wing: Carbon, 1700 cm², 85 cm x 24 cm, 3 screws with Torx head diameter 8
Base plate: CNC-aluminum, 4 holes with quick system to position the plate screws (supplied)
Covers: Yes, a big suitcase for all the disassembled components
Weight: 5.3 kg

What Wingsurf Journal.com says in thior NSP Airwave 1700 review

Completely modular, the whole set is clean and tightly packed in the travel case. Sizeable, it is not necessarily practical to carry it to your spot . We therefore decided not to use the travel suitcase and to simply keep the wings mounted to save rigging time.

There are no covers provided for the wings, we had to be careful not to damage our foils during the different sessions. The assembly is intuitive and a manual is available to guide the user if necessary.

The mast, base and fuselage are in aluminum while the 2 wings are in carbon. This NSP model is manufactured in partnership with F4. The plate is very easy to position since there are openings in front of each hole. Be careful to pay particular attention to tightening since these holes are not countersunk and if not screwed in tightly, the plate screws may move. The heavy duty screws are supplied by the brand, along with all the other screws, all in a small case. A tube of Tef Gel and Torx M6 and M8 tools are also provided for assembly. 3 long M6 screws are used to fix the base to the mast and the same identical screws are used to secure the fuselage to the mast. 2 small screws (M6) are used to hold the stabilizer of 330 cm² in place with the added possibility of varying the angle of the latter:

Shims

Riders have a choice of 3 shims between 1 and 3 degrees which are conveniently colored differently. Notches on the fender, on the fuselage and the cleat allow everything to be perfectly adjusted. The 1700 cm² load-bearing wing is fixed by 3 screws (M8) very well adjusted. Everything comes together to perfection and the mast fits into the fuselage for added rigidity.

Translation of the NSP Airwave 1700 review

“After the initial surprise over the size of the case wore off, we discovered a quality set inside the 600D nylon bag. Everything is set up to take advantage of this foil as quickly as possible. As we rode it, nothing changed. The hardware is clean and hadn’t been used or damaged, no signs of corrosion on the fuselage either, which is nice. With a front wing of 1700 cm², this foil is intended for users who are rather heavy or not yet comfortable with wingfoil.”

“It offers great lift and takeoff at very low speed. It will be very reassuring for the novices. And it is very interesting for a wide range of use. It allowed us to fly in very light conditions, despite the use of a small wing (4.0 m²). Beginners will therefore be able to take their first steps with a lighter wing while retaining the ability to fly. This feature has enabled us to easily lift ourselves over smaller breaking waves for a quick pass, without effort. It is easy to handle and offers very good lateral stability. With this 70cm mast, however, you will have to pay attention to the flight height. In the surf, we would repeatedly speed up, lift over the threshold and stall. On the other hand, during freeride sailing, we did not have this problem since you are the one determining cruising speed and it is  much easier to control.”

“Whatever spot we sailed in, the fast flight allows us to take advantage of every ripple. It is sensitive to stabilizer tilt adjustments and you shouldn’t hesitate to change the shim to suit your needs. You should also experiment with the location of your mast in the box for more control, depending on the location of your feet above the foil. We surfed, sailed quietly and even jumped with this Airwave 1700, it offers all the possibilities!”

“It will be a partner of choice for beginner to intermediate level sailors looking for a versatile and progressive foil. There are many other possible combinations and we would now like to be able to test this foil with a larger mast!”

Verdict

“This Airwave 1700 is a very beautiful foil by NSP and F4. This is not a foil that you will come across every day on the spots but the quality of manufacturing and the wider range of settings make it one of the best ones on the market. This combo will be useful for the heavier and / or beginners in SUP- or wingfoil. Other mast lengths and other wings are also available to complete your quiver.”

“It’s an interesting set- Its stability and speed of flight will be reassuring for novices, the brand has targeted the audience for which it is intended well.”

TEST CONDITIONS

Wind: Between 5 and 35 knots
Conditions: Flat, choppy, swell, small waves
Spots: Almanarre, Garonne, Les Lecques, Bages, Leucate
Hours on the water: 9 hours, 12 sessions

PROS

Very fast take off
Overall stability
Build quality

CONS

Size of the suitcase
No cover on the wings

NSP Airwing 1700 5.10 2021

Beginners: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Intermediaries: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Advanced: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Experts: ⭐⭐⭐

Weight: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rigidity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lift:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Speed: ⭐⭐⭐
Range of use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Versatility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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