Armstrong A-Wing XPS

Next generation performance, power and control for all riding styles

Sizes from 2.6 to 6.1m2

Whether it’s free flying, wave riding or freestyle, the all new A-Wing XPS delivers next generation performance, power and control. We recruited the world’s leading wing and kite designers to push this shape to the next level. Each aspect of the new A-Wing XPS was tirelessly thought out, tested and finely tuned in a wide range of riding conditions. 

An innovative cross panel sail (XPS) design provides an outstanding level of connection when riding. This futuristic panel layout greatly reduces sail distortion by improving load distribution and frame rigidity. This gives all the wing sizes a very direct and controlled feel for easy and comfortable flying. Removable carbon fibre battens minimise trailing edge flutter and provide easy canopy tuning for varying wind strengths.

The XPS’s airfoil section combined with our pre-twist tip geometry produces incredible speed with sublime upwind performance. This greatly benefits jump amplitude for freestyle manoeuvres and delivers plenty of hang time and float for smooth landings. This wing is also a wave rider’s dream with little to no luffing or sail flutter and excellent stability, allowing the rider to focus less on the wing and more on shredding the wave.

A newly developed hybrid carbon handle (HCH) design has a rigid carbon interior skeleton and soft padded exterior. This combination offers the best balance of control, comfort and safety.

We tested hundreds of individual materials during the development of the XPS. We settled on the new generation high quality lightweight Dacron, tried and tested polyester Dacron and Ultra PE woven laminate (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) for key reinforcements. The result is a highly refined combination of materials which delivers impressive strength to weight, durability and overall performance.

“Our company is specialised in water sport equipment design with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. We were approached by Armstrong to be part of their wing design team and bring our experience and knowledge to a very dedicated team.

Only knowing Armstrong through their extensive and high quality foil range, we were very interested to start working with them.

The research program started by understanding the philosophy behind the brand and making sure the members of the development team would be on the same page. After an introduction to their existing products and R&D team, we worked for quite a while on the design brief. No need to start designing something if you don’t know where you are going, right? We were surprised by the level of detail that went into those long meetings trying to refine every idea, brainstorming and making sure the new wing would be the best it can be and respond to all the market demands.

After the brief was finalised, it was interesting to have no limits on the R&D capacity. Since day one, there was no restriction of materials, costs, making samples, testing, travelling to the factories. This made our job as designers very interesting to think outside the box and explore different directions. On top of that, the Armstrong team has very tight connections with the sailing world especially with the America’s Cup NZ team. Their sailing background and their network with the sailing industry was pushing us to rethink every part of the wing with a different vision, even things we thought were dialled in, had to be redesigned.

To be honest, we never expected to put in countless hours of work to redo the design, iteration after iteration, but the hours don't count when the final result is getting closer. The emotions were always high between pure joy of achievement and frustration when prototypes were not delivering the expected results. But the results were always analysed thoughtfully to bring the best for future samples.

We handed over all the information to the production team who put in place high level quality control of the construction to make sure that the product customers ride will be the product we had in mind during this long process. In a few words: when are we starting the next project?”  – A-Wing XPS design team