We were able to test the Axis Fireball 880 front wing extensively. The 880 is the smallest wing in the series and has an area of 604 cm² with an aspect ratio of 12.82.
Despite its clear focus on downwind, the Fireball is also said to have strong all-round characteristics when wingfoiling. Axis states that the Fireball can be ridden 200 cm² smaller than usual across the entire range.
The Fireball is available in eight other sizes from 1750 to 940 wingspan with an aspect ratio of 20 (!) to 13 and an area of 1525 cm² to 689 cm².
On land
The extremely slim design of the Axis Fireball 880 is immediately apparent when you unpack it. The shape appears to be uncompromisingly tailored for efficiency. This thin and slim form with an extremely high aspect ratio requires an extremely rigid construction. To achieve this, the Fireball was specially constructed from ultra-high modulus carbon fibres. This is also reflected in the price.
We flew the Axis Fireball with a Black Fuselage Ultrashort and, as recommended by Axis, with a Skinny 359/40 stabiliser. As usual with Axis, the front wing is attached to the fuselage with two M8 and two M6 screws.
As the name suggests, the wingspan is 880 mm. The widest point is 93 mm. The average width is just under 69 mm. These dimensions alone show how elongated the wing is.
On the water
Due to the shape and dimensions of the Axis Fireball, we were a little apprehensive about our first outing. However, our fears were not confirmed. If there is enough wind, it takes off unspectacularly like any other foil. Keep the wing tight, let the board pick up speed, and off you go. Even in less wind, the front wing gets going well, all relative to the small surface area, of course. When planing, it really feels bigger than it actually is.
The same applies to gliding. Once the Axis Fireball is in flight, it stays there for a long time and glides through every wind hole. When things slow down a bit, it stays up for a long time and doesn’t suddenly drop. Even the thrust of a small, slightly above knee-high ship’s wave is enough to keep it gliding without pumping (wing in neutral position). Really amazing for a wing with 604 cm².
If the wind is not strong enough, it is easy to pump up regardless of its size. It lies calmly in the water without any tendency to tip over. It builds up a pleasant pressure and you are not afraid to “kick” it through the water.
Speed
During our first sessions, we flew the Axis Fireball with a pure race wing and sometimes with a harness. The speed of the front wing is truly enormous. We don’t think we were able to exploit its full speed potential, as we usually lacked the courage to keep the wing closed at all times in order to push the Fireball to its limits.
Despite its performance, the Fireball is relatively easy to handle. Once you understand how the wing works, jibes and tacks are no problem. The pop when jumping is also good for a foil of this size and even feels a little bigger. Due to its design as an extreme high aspect wing, we would have expected the Axis Fireball to be perhaps not quite as manoeuvrable. Of course, you can tell that the wing is a little more stretched than others. But it is much more flexible and playful than expected. We would have loved to take it on a trip to the Danish waves.
A little caution is advised at the tips of the Fireball. Although they are rounded, they are still thin and sharp enough to cause injury. However, this is to be expected with such high aspect wings.
Conclusion
The Axis Fireball 880 is really great fun. It is much more accessible than you would expect from such an extreme wing. The speed potential is enormous, so you will always be at the front of the pack when racing with friends.
However, it is still a front wing with only 604 cm², even if it feels bigger in many areas. This makes it more suitable for experienced foilers who want a high-performance foil. Beginners and intermediate riders should look at other front wings from Axis.
The only drawback is the high price.
